Rooting characteristics-soil water tension and soil water stress-Soil water potential concept-total and gravitational potential-soil water retention-infiltration-factors influencing infiltration rate-measurement of infiltration –permeability-determination- movement of water in soils-hydraulic conductivity-determination Lab Experiments:  Determination of soil moisture using tensiometer  Estimation of specific gravity of soil

Water Resources- River basins-Development and Utilization in India and Tamil Nadu-Irrigation- Moisture use of crop, Evapo transpiration - ET – plot. Crop water requirement - duty and delta -Effective rainfall - Scheduling - Irrigation requirement - Irrigation frequency, Irrigation efficiencies Lab Experiments:  Study of Evapotranspiration measuring device  Problems on duty of water - Duty and delta relationship

Methods of Irrigation - Hydraulics and design - Erodible and non-erodible, alluvial channels- Materials for lining water courses and field channel, Water control and diversion structure - Underground pipeline irrigation system - Land grading - Land levelling methods. Lab Experiments:  Measurement of water flow using V- notch, rectangular notch and circular notch  Determine the coefficient of discharge using Orifice meter & Venturimeter

Irrigation structures, channel lining- land grading, different design methods and estimation of earth work and cost; soil water plant relationship, soil water movement , infiltration and its equations, soil moisture constants, depth of irrigation, frequency of irrigation, irrigation efficiencies; surface irrigation methods of water application, border, check basin, furrow and contour irrigation. Lab Experiments:  Determine the efficiency of drip and sprinkler irrigation system  Determine the performance efficiency of centrifugal pump and Submersible pumps.

Agricultural drainage - Drainage coefficient; principles of flow through soils, Darcy’s law – infiltration theory, Surface drainage systems - Subsurface drainage - Design of subsurface drainage - Pipe materials - mole drains, drainage wells, Leaching requirements - irrigation and drainage water quality - recycling of drainage water for irrigation – Fertigation – Case studies on drainage in Assam and West Bengal, Visit to Dams & Irrigation Canal. Lab Experiments:  Design of sub surface drainage system  Design of surface drainage system .