Irrigation Terminologies Quiz

Open Channel Flow and Water Terminologies

• Normal depth: constant flow depth along a longitudinal section of a channel under uniform flow conditions
• Normal storage elevation: maximum elevation of the water surface that can be attained by the dam or reservoir without flow in the spillway

Irrigation Terminologies

• Access areas: areas open for public entry such as golf courses, public and private parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, and residential landscapes
• Active storage: volume of water stored in a reservoir between the minimum water level and normal water level
• Actual crop evapotranspiration: rate of evapotranspiration equal to or smaller than predicted crop evapotranspiration
• Afflux elevation: rise in maximum flood level from the original unobstructed flood level after an obstruction to the flow has been introduced
• Algal bloom: overgrowths of algae in water producing dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water
• Application efficiency: ratio of the average depth of irrigation water infiltrated and stored in the root zone to the average depth of irrigation water applied
• Aquifer: geologic formation which contains water and transmits it at a rate sufficient to be economically developed for pumping artificially developed well

Canal and Reservoir Terminologies

• Diversion dam: structure or weir provided across the river or creek to raise its water level and divert the water into the main canal to facilitate irrigation by gravity
• Diversion water requirement: total quantity of water diverted from a stream, lake, or reservoir to irrigate a crop
• Drop: in-line canal structure designed to convey canal water from a higher level to a lower level, duly dissipating the excess energy resulting from the drop in elevation
• Effective rainfall: amount of rainwater that falls directly on the field and is used by the crop for growth and development

Soil and Water Terminologies

• Effective rooting depth: soil depth from which the bulk of the roots of the crop extracts most of the water needed for evapotranspiration
• Effective size: particle diameter corresponding to a 10% sieve passing
• Effluent: discharges from known sources which is passed into a body of water or land, or wastewater flowing out of a manufacturing plant
• Karst topography: geological formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rocks such as limestone or dolomite

Land and Water Management Terminologies

• Land preparation water requirement: amount of water required in lowland rice production which includes water losses through evaporation, seepage, and percolation
• Land soaking water requirement: amount of water required in lowland rice production which is a function of the initial soil moisture and the physical properties of the soil
• Lateral spacing: spacing between irrigation laterals
• Leaching: deep percolation of water beyond the root zone of plants, resulting in loss of salts or nutrients

Test your knowledge on irrigation terminologies including concepts like steady uniform flow, varied/non-uniform flow, active storage in reservoirs, and access areas open for public entry.