IRRIGATION WATER FROM SMALL SCALE EXCAVATIONS IN A DRY RIVER BED
IRRIGATION WATER FROM SMALL SCALE EXCAVATIONS IN A DRY RIVER BED
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Date
1970-02
Authors
OMOLOKUN, A.O.
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Abstract
Northern Nigeria has a wide range of rainfall
conditions, varying from an average annual rainfall of
60 inches in the southern-most parts to 15 inches in
the extreme north. In all cases precipitation occurs
during only limited portions of the year and during the
dry season, crop cultivation is virtually at a standstill.
Owing to the ever-present problem of a shortage
of water in most of the rivers in Northern Nigeria
and the increasing demand for food and fibre, it is
essential to tap the groundwater supplies as this is
the largest available source of fresh water on earth.
The object of this study is to determine
(i) the existence and extent of groundwater inaa
river basin,
(ii) the theoretical and practical yield of shallow
wells situated in a dry river bed,
(iii) the effective method of retaining banks in
such wells
(iv) the suitability of the water and land for
irrigation practices,
(v) reliable and inexpensive methods of raising
the water for irrigation purposes, and
(vi) whether such a project is economically desirable.
The area chosen for the study is the Kubanni River
Basin which lies almost in the centre of the Loess Plain
soils- Map I. The Loess Plain soils are reputed to be
very excellent agricultural land as they are formed by
infilling of fine eaolian drift on a sedentary iron pan
peneplain. The whole of Zaria Province, southern parts
of Katsina, Kano and smaller areas adjoining Sokoto and
Niger are areas in this soil unit.
The results of this study may be reliably used in
those areas mentioned above and all other similar areas
in Nigeria without the necessity of having to make expensive
trials.
The methods of measurement and analysis are discussed
in the text. It is shown that for irrigation
purposes the quality of water from the shallow excavation
in the river bed, rather than the quality, proves
the limiting factor.
Description
Being the thesis submitted to the Department
of Civil Engineering - Ahmadu Bello
University in partial fulfillment of the
requirements of the degree of Master of Science
February, 1970
Keywords
IRRIGATION,, WATER,, SMALL SCALE,, EXCAVATIONS,, DRY RIVER BED