Introduction

• Water is a very important natural resource. 

• It is necessary for both crops and livestock. 

Uses of water in the farm; 

• Cleaning equipment. 

• Irrigation in dry areas. 

• Processing farm produce, for example, coffee. 

• Drinking by livestock and man. 

• Mixing agro-chemicals such as acaricide, fungicides and herbicides. 

• Providing power in water mills to grind grain crops. 

• Cooling engines. 

• Construction work. 

Sources of Water in the Farm 

       Three major sources of water in the farm: 

• Surface water:

 Includes water from; 

- Rivers, 

- Streams 

- Dams. 

• Ground water: 

Includes water from; 

- Springs, 

- Wells 

- Boreholes. 

• Rain water: 

This is water tapped in various ways such as;

- Rooftops 

- Rock surface, when it is raining and stored in various ways. 

Collection and Storage of Water 

• Dams: 

- These are structures constructed across rivers and channels. 

- They collect and store water for use during the dry season. 

• Weirs: 

- These are structures constructed across rivers to raise the water level for easy pumping. 

- Unlike in the dams water flows over the barrier created across the river. 

• Water Tanks: 

- These are structures made of concrete, stone, metal sheets and plastics. 

- They store water from rain or that which has been pumped from other sources. 

- Tanks should be covered to prevent contamination from dust. 

Pumps and Pumping of Water 

• Pumping is the lifting of water from one point to another by use of mechanical force. 

• Water is pumped from the various sources and then conveyed to where it is required for use or storage. 

       Types of Water Pumps 

Used to lift water from its source. 

• Centrifugal pumps 

• Piston or reciprocating pumps 

• Semi-rotary pumps and 

• Hydram 

Conveyance of Water 

• This is the process of moving water from one point, usually the source or point of storage to where it will be used or stored. 

• Piping;

- This is where water is moved through pipes. 

              The common types of pipes include: 

- Metal pipes 

- Plastic pipes

- Hose pipes 

• Use of Containers: 

- In this case water is drawn and put in containers .

- drums, jerry cans, pots, gourds, tanks and buckets .

- Which are carried by animals, bicycles, human beings and vehicles. 

• Use of Canals:

- In this case water is conveyed from a high point to a lower one along a gradual slope to avoid soil erosion. 

- Water conveyed through this way is mostly used for irrigation and livestock. 

Water Treatment 

• Raw water contains impurities which may be dissolved, floating or suspended in water. 

These impurities are grouped into three categories, namely: 

• Physical impurities: these are dissolved impurities detected by colour, taste and smell. 

• Chemical impurities: these are dissolved impurities detected by use of chemical analysis. 

• Biological impurities: these are microorganisms in water such as bacteria, viruses and algae. 

Importance of Treating Water 

• To kill disease causing microorganisms such as cholera and typhoid bacteria that thrive in dirty water. 

• To remove chemical impurities such as excess fluoride which may be harmful to human beings. 

• To remove smells and bad taste. 

• To remove sediments of solid particles such as soil, sand and sticks. 

Methods of Treating Water 

• Aeration: this is the removal of smell and odour from water by fine spraying or bubbling of air. 

• Sedimentation: this is where water is put in large containers so that solid particles such as sand, metal and others can settle at the bottom. 

• Filtration: this is passing water through fine granular materials to remove solid particles and biological substances. 

• Coagulation: addition of chemicals which precipitate impurities and help in softening of hard water. 

• Chlorination: Sterilization to destroy disease causing organisms. 

Irrigation 

• It is the artificial application of water to crops in dry areas or where water is not enough. 

• It is one of the methods of land reclamation in case of arid and semi arid areas. 

Factors to Consider in Identifying and Assessing the Potential of Land for Irrigation Development 

• Topography of the land 

• Soil type 

• Type of crop to be grown 

• Water availability 

• Human factors such as skill, capital availability and economic activities. 

Types of Irrigation 

• Surface irrigation: 

- This includes flood irrigation and basin irrigation. 

- It is used in flat areas. 

- The problem with this method is loss of water through seepage. 

- It also increases soil salinity. 

• Sub-surface Irrigation: 

- This involves the use of porous pipes or perforated pipes. 

- It is used in slopy areas and where water is inadequate. 

• Overhead or Sprinkler Irrigation: 

- It is used in any area which is not steep. 

• Drip or Trickle Irrigation: 

- It is used where water is little and in relatively sloppy and flat areas. 

Drainage 

• This is a method of removing excess water or lowering the water table from a marshy water-logged land. 

• It is also a method of land reclamation. 

      Importance of Drainage as a Method of Land Reclamation 

• To increase soil aeration. 

• To raise soil temperature. 

• To increase microbial activities in the soil. 

• To reduce toxic substances from the soil. 

• To increase soil volume for exploitation by plant roots. 

     Methods of Drainage 

• Use of open ditches. 

• Use of underground drain pipes. 

• French drains. 

• Cambered beds. 

• Pumping out water from the soil. 

• Planting tree species which absorb a lot of water for example eucalyptus. 

Water Pollution 

• This is the process by which harmful substances get into the water. 

• The harmful substance is referred to as a pollutant. 

Agricultural practices which pollute water include: 

• Use of inorganic fertilizers. 

• Use of pesticides. 

• Poor cultivation practices such as over cultivation, cultivating along the river banks. 

• Overgrazing which leads to erosion of soil thus causing siltation in water sources. 

Methods of Preventing Water Pollution 

• Soil conservation measures which minimize soil losses through erosion. 

• Fencing off the water sources. 

• Adopting organic farming practices for example controlling pests and weed using non-chemical techniques. 

• Planting grass along river banks to minimize siltation in rivers. 

•      Proper disposal of empty chemical containers.