TTTI/ER/EO/01

THIKA TECHNICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING SECTION

STAGE TWO

COURSE: DIPLOMA IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING

DAG SEPT 2022

FIELD ENGINEERING

TIME: 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE

 Write your Name and Admission number on your answer booklet.

 You should have Mathematical tables/ scientific calculator for this
examination.
 Answer all questions in SECTION A and any other two in SECTION B in
the spaces provided.
 Maximum marks to each part of a question are indicated
 Candidates should answer the questions in English
 No mobile phones allowed in exam room

This paper consists of 2 printed pages.

Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages are
printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.

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SECTION A
Question 1
a) Define the following terms:
i. Irrigation
ii. Drainage

iii. Percolation is the downward movement in Water in saturated soil in response to

the force of gravity.
iv. Wilting point is defined as the minimal point of soil moisture the plant requires not
to wilt.
v. Field capacity is a measurement that has to do with the ability of soil in a given area
to absorb water, once all excess and surface water has been drained from the area.
Is the amount of Water which is retained on the surface of soil grains after the
gravity water has freely drained.
(5 marks)
b) Outline the importance of irrigation (10 marks)
1. Increase food production.
2. Ensure maximum utilization of water i.e. it is possible to obtain maximum yields with an
amount of water.
3. Elimination of mixed cropping farmers adopt mixed cropping when weather conditions
are not favourable so that if one crop fails they harvest the other hence with irrigation the
problem of unfavourable weather conditions are solved.
4. General prosperity- Revenue returns are sometimes quite high and help in all round
development of the country and the prosperity of the nation and the community.
5. Cheaper power generation e.g. hydro electric power can be generated from projects
primal designed for irrigation alone e.g. canal falls can be used for power generation as a
by product.
6. Domestic water supply-Some irrigation helps on regimenting the town water supply
where water is available with great difficult. It provides water for swimming, bathing,
and domestic use.
7. Facility of communication-Irrigation channels are generally provided with big
embankment and inspection roads. This inspection roads provide a good road way for the
villagers for walking, cycling.

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8. Inland navigation-Sometimes larger irrigation canals can be used and developed for
navigation purposes.
9. Settle the landless people-It is a method of land reclamation.
10. A forestation-Tree is generally generating growth along the banks of the channels which
increase the timber wealth of the country and help in reducing the soil erosion.
11. Climatic control-By controlling high temperatures.
12. It can be used to apply fertilizers e.g. in drip irrigation where the fertilizers are mixed
with irrigation Water (fertilization)
13. Employment

Question 2
a) Define the following terms as used in pumps
i. Pump performance curve describes the relation between the flowrate and the head
for the actual pump.
ii. Total head is a measure of fluid’s potential at the measurement point
iii. Water horsepower- is the minimum power required to move water
iv. Cavitation -is the formation and accumulation of bubbles around a pump
impeller (4 marks)
b) What is the power requirement for pumping 400l/min against a head of 60m, assuming a
pump efficiency of 75%? Determine the size of electrical motor required to operate the
pump. (4 marks)

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c) With the aid of a diagram, explain the operation of a centrifugal pump (7 marks)

SECTION B
Question 3
a) Explain the design of a sprinkler irrigation system. (8 marks)
b) For an irrigation project which 120litres/sec.is diverted from a river, 105litres/sec arriving
at the field of the scheme.1.11 liters per second arrives at the entrance to the farm and
applied for 10 hours and that there are 72 farms each with 0.5 hectares. Determine;
i. Conveyance efficiency
ii. Distribution efficiency
iii. Application efficiency if at the end of the irrigation the amount of water stored at
the root zone is 4.2 mm.

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iv. The project efficiency. (12 marks)

Question 4
a) A soil has field capacity moisture of 20mm per meter depth. Given the depth of the root
zone =10mm and the bulk density of the soil is 1500kg/m3.Calculate the depth of water
stored in the root zone per metre.Take density of water = (1000kg/m3) (4 marks)

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b) Discuss the soil moisture characteristic curve (7 marks)

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c) Outline the problems of using poor irrigation water (10 marks)

Salinity: Salinity problems related to water quality occurs if total quantity of salts in the
irrigation water is high enough for the salts to accumulate in the crop root zone to the extent
that yields are affected. If excessive quantity of soluble salts accumulates in the root zone, the
crop has difficult in extracting enough water from the salty soil solution. This reduces the
water up take by plant and usually results in slow or reduced growth.
Permeability: This problem occurs when the rate of water infiltration in to and through the
soil is reduced by the effect of specific salts in the water to such extent that the crop is not
adequately supplied with water and yield is reduced. The poor soil permeability causes
difficulty like crusting of seedbed, water logging, and attack of disease, salinity, weeds,
oxygen and nutritional problems.
Toxicity: A toxicity problem occurs when certain constituents in the water are taken up by
the crop and accumulate in amounts that result in reduced yield. This is usually related to
one or more specific ions in the water viz. boron, chloride and sodium.
Miscellaneous: Various other problems related to irrigation water quality occur with
sufficient frequency and should be specifically noted. These include excessive vegetative
growth, lodging and delayed crop maturity from excessive nitrogen in water supply, white
deposits on fruits or leaves due to sprinkler irrigation with high carbonate water and
abnormalities by an unusual pH of the irrigation water.
Question 5
a) Outline five factors to be considered when estimating irrigation water (6 marks)
1. Soil type. The type of soil in an area can affect not only the type of irrigation method
used but also the irrigation run times. Sandy soils typically require frequent applications
of water at a high rate to keep moisture in the root zone. Clay soils has a characteristic of
holding moisture longer that sandy soils, even so, this may require frequent applications
at a lower rate to prevent runoff.
2. Land topography. When it comes to land considerations, hilly or sloping land can be a
challenge. Drip irrigation works well if the laterals can be run along topographic lines.
Often system run times may need to be adjusted to prevent runoff. Travelers and center
pivot systems are usually out of the question on hilly and severely sloping land.
3. Local weather patterns. In this case, sprinklers are less desirable in areas where high
winds are common and in arid areas with a low humidity since water losses due to
evaporation can be extremely high. Drip irrigation works well for both of the above
mentioned situations.
4. Type of crops grown. Sprinkler and drip systems can require high levels of investment.
Therefore, it’s better to reserve their use for high-value crops like vegetables, small fruits
and orchard crops rather than applying them to commodity crops like wheat and
soybeans.
5. Water quality. All drip irrigation systems require some type of filtration. Overhead
systems such as sprinklers seldom require filtration. Irrigation water should be tested for
water borne pathogens. Depending on the crop grown and irrigation method used
chlorine injection may be required. Other water quality issues that could be of concern
include levels of soluble iron and other dissolved minerals.
b) Explain five methods of measuring irrigation water (15 marks)
Volumetric or volume methods of water measurement

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Area – Velocity Method

Measuring Structures (Orifices, Weirs and Flumes)

Float method

Tracer methods.

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Question 6
a) Outline any ten functions of irrigation (10 marks)
1. Water dissolves the nutrients, forms a solution of the nutrients and which are absorbed
by the roots and thus water acts as a nutrient carrier.
2. The irrigation water supplies moisture which is essential for the life of bacteria which
are beneficial to plant growth.
3. Irrigation water supplied moisture which is essential for the metabolism within the
plant leading to plant growth.
4. Some essential salts present in soil react in presence of water to produce nourishing
food products.
5. Water cools the soil and atmosphere, thus creating a healthy environment for plant
growth.

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6. It softens the tillage pans (area to be irrigated)

b) Explain five factors considered in selecting the right irrigation method for crop
production (10 marks)

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