Assessing the potential for modern surface irrigation in Egypt

Over the past decade, there has been a gradual shift in Egypt towards development of farm mechanization systems. Efficient use of equipment requires tilling basins and furrows in long strips. However; for irrigation, these strips are typically broken up into small basins; this requires considerable labor and results in nonuniform and inefficient irrigation. Irrigation of long strips on very flat nearly level fields is difficult with the current degree of land-grading precision. Use of laser-controlled land-grading equipment is increasing in Egypt, but this has not led to irrigation of long strips. A project was undertaken to examine the potential performance of modem level basins in Egypt. Field studies were conducted to verify that these modem surface irrigation methods would be viable. These field studies were also used to determine infiltration and roughness conditions which might be typical of soils in the Nile Delta. Simulation studies were also performed to determine the influence of land-grading precision on level-basin performance. This article summarizes the studies that have been performed and provides an introduction to the application of this technology to improving surface-irrigation performance.