Irrigation: Design and Practice

With the growing world population and the need for more food, irrigation has a vital role to play. In a climate where rainfall does not meet plant water requirements during all or part of the year, irrigation is a prerequisite for agriculture. Most of the countries with such a climate have different irrigation needs. The authors, both of whom have first hand knowledge and experience of field irrigation in many parts of the world (including Iraq, Nigeria and Indonesia), have prepared this book mainly for undergraduate and postgraduate irrigation and specialization courses. Additionally it should provide a useful text for practising engineers moving into irrigation or for students of agriculture, forestry and ecology. The topics covered include feasability studies, irrigation practices, the moisture in soils, crop water use, saline and alkaline soils, the design of field irrigation systems, the drainage or irrigated fields, flow measurement, the canal system, mechanization and land preparation for irrigation.