IMPROVING SURFACE IRRIGATION DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

Abstract

One of the serious problems in Egypt is the rapid growth of population, and consequently the increase in human necessities. To deal with such problem both horizantal and vertical expansion are required. The Egyptian ambitious strategy is to reclamin , 4 million feddan from year 1997 to year 2017 (EI-Zogby, 1999). Thus, it is of great important to use efficient irrigation system. The second strategy is the vertical expansion, which means practicing extensive cultivation and adopting the new appropriate technology. This requires more understanding of the relevant technical, economical and social aspects. Surface irrigation is the most common irrigation method in Egypt. Types of surface flood ir igation include furrow, border, and basin irrigation. Flood irrigation involves flowing water across the soil surface, thus using the soil to convey water along the field length. This results in a low capital cost. However, using the soil surface to convey water across the field introduces problems in' its design and management. Both design and management depend to a high degree on the soil properties such as infiltration rate and surface roughness. Surface irrigation systems inherently distribute water non­ uniformly over the land area to be irrigated. This non-uniform distribution of water can cause a number of problems. First, areas receiving too little water can experience crop stress, yield reductions and salinization 'from insufficient downward movement of water. Second, areas receiving too much water can leach fertilizers and contribute to rising water tables, again leading to salinization. Introduction .