Evaluation of border dyke systems
Date
1963
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ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
Irrigation is the application of water to soil for the purpose
of supplying moisture necessary for the growth of a crop. Irrigation
has been practiced since the beginning of civilization and its importance
in the present world is well recognized as a means of developing
a profitable agriculture. The rapid growth in the world population
and the consequent need for additional food supplies are making irrigation absolutely necessary in the world today.
In surface irrigation by flooding, two general methods are used;
uncontrolled flooding or controlled flooding. In irrigating by uncontrolled
flooding, or wild flooding, water is applied to an area which
has undergone no prior land preparation. In most cases, this unsystematic method produces inefficient irrigation. Low spots in the field are
over-irrigated whereas high areas are under-irrigated. In the controlled
flooding method, predetermined rates and quantities of water are applied
to areas which have been prepared for irrigation. This method of irrigation includes border dyke, border ditch, and border check systems. For
proper design of these systems, the size of stream is balanced against
the intake rate of the soil, the total depth of water to be stored in the
root zone, and the area to be covered by the stream.
With the completion of the South Saskatchewan Dam, it is expected
that the irrigated acreage of the province will increase substantially.
Further, it is expected that most of the new area coming under irrigation
will be irrigated by some surface irrigation method.
One of the most common and diversified of the surface irrigation
methods, which is adaptable to both close growing and row crops, is the border dyke or border strip method. In this method, water is introduced
to land which is bounded by low, flat levees or dykes which
extend in the direction of the steepest slope.
The present procedures used in design of border dyke systems
2.
are empirical. The experimental data reported in the literature were
obtained from systems whose soils, topography and other conditions
differ widely from those which will be encountered in the South Saskatchewan River Development Project. Thus, it is questionable whether
these data can be applied directly to the design of systems in Saskatchewan.
There is a great need for experimental data from systems
installed on areas which are similar to those that will be encountered
under the proposed project.
The study reported in this thesis was undertaken in an attempt
to satisfy some of these needs. Experimental data collected from existing
border dyke systems located in Saskatchewan are presented. In
addition, a rational approach for evaluating several factors affecting
the design of these systems for example, soil intake rate, is given.
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
College of Engineering
Program
College of Engineering