Irrigation Engineering For

Civil Engineering Department

12/29/2024 1
 1. INTRODUCTON
1.1 Definition and scope of irrigation
• Definition: Irrigation is the science of artificial application of water to the land, in
accordance with the crop requirements throughout the crop period for full
nourishment of the crops.

• It is the Engineering of controlling and harnessing the various natural sources of

water, by construction of dams & reservoirs, canals & head works and finally
distributing the water to agricultural fields.

• Water is normally supplied to the plants by nature through the rainfall. However,
it may be either insufficient, or ill-timed.
• To have maximum yield it is essential to supply the optimum quantity of water
with the schedule.. factors that
- inadequate rainfall necessitate
- uneven distribution of Rainfall irrigation
- increasing the yield of the crops
- growing a number of crops
- insuring against drought.
- growing perennial crops.
12/29/2024 2
Scope of Irrigation Engineering
• Irrigation is not only application of water to the land for raising crops. It includes
all aspects and problems extending from the watershed to the agricultural fields.

• It deals with
Hydrology, river engineering, design and construction of
dams, weirs, canals and various other hydraulic and
irrigation structures.

It also deals with surface and sub surface drainage

system, soil reclamation, water-soil-crop relationships.
Other allied sciences such as flood control, Ground
water development, hydropower, and inland navigation
are also studied in IRRIGATION ENGINEERING.

Various aspects of Irrigation Engineering are:

1. Water resources and hydrology aspect –Study the hydrology of the region. This
includes locate various water sources meteorology, precipitation, stream flow,
floods, river engineering, reservoirs flood control and ground water hydrology.
12/29/2024 3
The following information are required while designing various irrigation
structures.
• The quantity of water that will be available at a reservoir site for
storage.
• Maximum discharge at a river site.
• Reservoir capacity that ensures adequate Quantity of water for various
purposes.
• Quantity of ground water which can be economically exploited.

2. Engineering Aspect - involves the development of a source of water for

irrigation and construction of various irrigation structures.
– Dams and water power Engineering
– Diversion and Distribution structures
– Minor irrigation schemes (well, Tank / Pond, inundation Irrigation).
– Ground water development.
3. Agricultural aspect – Involves irrigation practice and the study of
agricultural characteristics of the land and Crops.
4. Management Aspect- deals with successful implementation and
12/29/2024 4
 1.2 Benefits and ill- effects of irrigation
There are various direct and indirect advantages of irrigation.
 Increase in food production: increasing crop yields through controlled and
timely supply of water to the crop.
 Optimum benefits: Optimum utilization implies obtaining maximum crop
yield with any amount of water.
 Elimination of mixed cropping Mixed cropping is generally not acceptable,
because different crops require different types of field preparations and
different types of manures, amount of water etc.
 General prosperity: A Revenue return is sometimes quite high and helps in
all round development of the country.
 Generation of hydroelectric power: primarily objects designed for irrigation
alone but cheaper power generation
 Domestic water supply:- irrigation helps in augmenting the town water supply
where water is available with great difficulty. It also provides water for
swimming bathing, cattle drinking etc.
 Facilities of communication: Irrigation channels are generally provided with
embankments and inspection roads. These inspection paths provide a good
road way to the villagers for walking, cycling or even motoring.
 In land navigation
12/29/2024 5
Ill-effects of irrigation
 It is occurred when the scheme is not properly designed, implemented and
application management.
 Some of the common ill-effects are
 Water logging: when cultivators apply more water than actually required
by the crops, excess water percolates in to the ground and raises the water
table.
 Long term application of pesticides under large scale irrigation system
might have a negative influence on soil microbial activities, on the quality
of surface and sub surface water resources due to pollution application
fertilizer that contains nitrates.

 Irrigation may result in colder and damper climate causing outbreak of

disease like malaria.

 Irrigation is complex and expensive in itself. Some times cheaper water

is to be provided at the cost of the government and revenue returns are low.

12/29/2024 6
1.3 Irrigation development in Ethiopia
 Ethiopia is the “water tower”
of North Eastern Africa. The
country is endowed with water resources that could easily be tapped and
used for irrigation.
 Ironically this country is already suffering by
food shortage and chronic drought

 In Ethiopia, rain fed agriculture contributes the largest share of the total
production. However, over the past few decades, irrigated agriculture has
become more important.
 Prior to the mid-1980s, irrigation in Ethiopia was concentrated on the
production of commercial crops, principally cotton and sugarcane on
large state farms.
 By 1980 it was estimated that 85,000 ha. Mainly in the Awash valley, had
been developed under this form of production. In addition some 65,000
ha of traditional irrigation was estimated to exist.
 During this period government involvement in irrigation concentrated on
the state farms and was channeled through various agencies.
12/29/2024 7
Historical Back Ground of Authority
• In 1956 water resource development (WRD) was established within Ministry of
public works, with responsibility for undertaking river basin development
studies and such a study was completed for the Blue Nile basin.
• However irrigation development remained concentrated in the Awash valley
and in 1962 Awash valley Authority (AVA) was established.
• In 1971 National Water Resources Commission (NWRC) was established.
• In 1977 Valleys agricultural development authority (VADA) was created to
extend the development of large scale irrigated agriculture beyond the Awash
valley and AVA become part of VADA.
• In 1981 NWRC strengthened to absorb functions of VADA. It comprised four
authorities including water resource development authority (WRDA), which
became responsible for the study, design, and implementation of water resource
development projects including large scale irrigation.

• The Water SectorTraditional

Development programme
small scale schemes of MoWR (2002) organizes
irrigation schemes Modern
in Ethiopia
communalunder four different ways with sizes ranging
schemes
from 50 to 85,000 ha after the
Modern 1984
private drought occured
schemes
Public Schemes
12/29/2024 8
• Traditional small scale schemes: These includes up to 100 ha in area, built
and operated by farmers in local communities. Traditionally, farmers have built
small scale schemes on their own initiative with government technical and
material support. Manage by Water users’ associations.
• Modern communal schemes: schemes up to 200 ha, built by government
agencies with farmer participation.
• Modern private schemes: up to 2000 ha, owned and operated by private
investors individually, in partnership, or as corporations.
• Currently 18 modern private irrigation projects are operating in some form over
a total area of 6000 ha in Oromiya, SNNPR, and Affar regions.
• Public Schemes of over 3,000 ha, owned and operated by public enterprises as
estate farms. Gode West, Omo Ratti and Alwero- Abobo began late in the 1980s
with the exception of Fincha sugare estate have been suspended. Oromiya and
Affar account nearly 87% of all irrigation schemes and about 73% of this is
located in Awash valley. The SNNPR and Somali regions contain 9.9 and 3.3
percent respectively, WSDP (2003).
Irrigation potential:
• In 1990, the potential for medium and large scale irrigation projects was
identified as 3.3 Mha. According to India consultancy study.
• 12/29/2024
The irrigation potential of the12 major river basins is given in the Table below.
9
Rivers Basin area Mean annual Ground water 1 2
(Km)2 Vol.x109m3 potentialx109 potential Net area
m3 gross irrigable Under
area(ha) irrigation(ha)
Awash 112696 4.60 0.14 205400 69900
Abay() 204000 52.62 1.80 1001550 21010
Baro-Akobo 75912 11.81 0.13 600000 350
Rift valley 52739 56.3 0.10 139300 12270
lakes
Omo-Gibe 79000 17.96 0.10 86520 27310
Genale-dawa 17104 5.88 0.03 423300 80
Wabi-Shebelle 202697 3.16 0.04 204000 20290
Tekeze 865000 8.20 0.02 189500 1800
Oaden 72121 0.86 - - -
Denakil 62882 0.86 - 3000 -
Aysha 2223 0.22 - - -
Mereb-Gash 5700 0.65 0.05 67560 8000
Total 1127312 112.45 2.59 2920130 161010

12/29/2024 10
 Major irrigation methods

Irrigation Methods

Surface Irrigation Sub surface irrigation Pressurized irrigation

Border Natural Sprinkler

Check basin Artificial Drip/Trickle

Furrow
12/29/2024 11
Functions of Irrigation water
• The function of soil moisture in plant growth are diversified
• It adds water to the soil to supply the moisture essential for plant growth

• It acts as a solvent for the nutrients. Water forms the solution of the nutrients
and this solution is absorbed by the roots. Thus water acts as a nutrient carrier.
• The irrigation water supplies moisture which is essential for the life of
bacteria beneficial to the plant growth.
• Irrigation water supplies the moisture which is essential for the chemical
action within the plant, leading to its growth.
• Some salt present in soil react to produce nourishing food products only in the
presence of water
• Water cools the soil and the atmosphere and thus makes more favorable
environment for healthy plant growth.
• Irrigation water, with controlled supplies, washes out or dilutes salts in the soil
• It reduces the hazard of soil piping.
• It softens tillage pans

12/29/2024 12
 1.4 Standards of irrigation water
• Every water is not suitable for irrigation. The quality of irrigation water is
very much influenced by the contents of the soil, which is to be irrigated.
Particular water may be harmful for irrigation on a particular soil but the
same water may be tolerable or even useful on some other soil.
Irrigation water may be said to be unsatisfactory for its intended use if it
contains:
• Chemicals toxic to plants or the persons using plant as food
• chemicals that react with the soil to produce unsatisfactory moisture
characteristics
• Bacteria injurious to persons or animals eating plants irrigated with water.
There are two main causes of salinity:
• Salinity caused by the supply of irrigation water and
• Salinity caused by the upward movement of water and salts, related to
high water tables and lack of drainage

12/29/2024 13
Total concentration of soluble salts:
 Salts, when present in excessive quantities, reduce osmotic activities of the plants and may
prevent adequate aeration causing injuries to plant growth. The effect of salts on plant
growth depends largely upon the total amount of salts in the soil solution. The salinity
concentration of the soil solution (C s) after the consumptive use (Cu) has been extracted from
the soil is given by
Cs= C*Q/[Q-(Cu-Peff)]
where Q = quantity of water applied
Cu = is consumptive use of water i.e. the total amount of water used up by the plant for its
growth.
Peff = useful rainfall
Cu - Peff = used up irrigation water
C = concentration of salt in irrigation water
C*Q = the total salt applied to the soil with Q amount of water.
• Concentration of salt is measured in PPM (equivalent to mg/l). Concentration of salt above
2000 PPM is generally harmful for almost all crops. Salt concentration is measured by
determining electrical conductivity.
• Low Conductivity (low salinity) 100-250 micromhos/cm
• Medium conductivity 250-750 micromhos/cm
• High conductivity 750-2250 micromhos/cm
• Very high conductivity >2250 micromhos at 250C
12/29/2024 14
• Since a high degree of correlation exists between, EC, the total cations and osmotic pressure
• the following relationship may be employed for the evaluation of salt
concentration.
1. Salt concentration , mg/l or ppm = 640 * EC millimhos/cm
2. Total cation concentration , meq/lit = 10* EC millimhos/cm , when EC is
measured up to the range of 5 millimhos/cm at 25 0C.
3. Osmotic pressure , in atmospheres = 0.36 *EC millmhos/cm , For soils the
saturation extract could be used for this purposes.
4. ppm/Eq.Wt = meq/lit.
5. meq/lit. to ppm = Sum of the product of the meq. of each ion times its
equivalent weight.
Proportion of sodium ions to other cations: small quantities of sodium ions
present in most soils relative to other cations.
 If its percentage increases it has an influence
It breaks down aggregation of soil grains. The soil becomes less permeable and
of poorer tilt. It starts crusting when dry and its pH increases towards that of an
alkaline soil. High sodium soils are therefore, plastic, sticky when wet, and are
prone to form clogs and they crust on drying.

• The proportion of sodium ions present in the soil is generally measured by

12/29/2024 15
a factor called sodium-absorption ratio (SAR) and represents the sodium
 SAR = Na+/((Ca+++Mg++)/2)0.5

When SAR between 0-10 it is low sodium water

10-18 medium ,,
18-26 High ,,
>26 very high ,,
• Low sodium water is suitable for irrigation except in crops which are
sensitive to sodium like fruit trees, avocados etc where as
• medium sodium water is hazardous in fine textured soils.
• Very high sodium water is generally not suitable for irrigation. SAR value
can be reduced by adding gypsum (CaSo4).

pH :- The pH value of a soil or natural water is a measure of its alkalinity

or acidity.
 More accurately stated , the pH value is a measure of the hydrogen ion
concentration in water.
 Mathematically this is the logarithm to the base 10 of the reciprocal of the
12/29/2024 16
hydrogen ion concentration of the pure water.
 Potentially toxic elements: elements like Boron, Selenium, etc may be toxic to
plants.
• Concentration of Boron exceeding
0.3 PPM may be toxic to certain plants.
0.5 PPM dangerous to nuts, citrus fruits.
The following guidelines can be used in assessing the water quality for irrigation.
• Salinity status: ECw and TDS
• Infiltration capacity: this can be done by estimating SAR and ECw , salinity
& sodium content.
• Specific ion Toxicity: Na , Cl, B ,
• Other trace elements: Al, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu , F ,Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb,
Se, etc
• Miscellaneous effect: Nitrogen NO3 - N , Bicarbonate (HCO3) - for
overhead irrigation

12/29/2024 17
1.5 Feasibility studies of irrigation projects
Types of Irrigation projects
• Any plan small or large, which ultimately aims at satisfying the paramount
need of adequate water provision for crop production, is an irrigation
project.
Based on the scope of the irrigation project, irrigation projects can be
classified as:
a) Large scale >3000 ha, command areas
b) Medium scale 200-3000 ha.
c) Small scale <200 ha
Stages of investigations in the development of irrigation projects.
• Basically, the development of water resources for irrigation requires the
conception, planning, design, construction, and operation of various
facilities to utilize and control water and to maintain water quality.
• Investigations of the development of irrigation projects need multi-
disciplinary approach.

12/29/2024 18
The common procedures adopted in the development of an irrigation project
are:
1. Sites are located on the topo-sheet.
2. The marked sites are inspected (reconnaissance) to decide their feasibility.
3. The feasibility investigations are carried out for one or more of the
possible alternatives and estimates based approximate details are prepared.
4. Detailed investigations are then taken up and technical sanctions are
granted.
5. After the technical sanction, agency of execution (i.e., contractor) is fixed
and construction started.
Approaches of data collections:
The following questions should be answered
• What or which data are required?
• How they can be collected?
• Why are they needed?
• Is the cost of their collection worthwhile?

12/29/2024 19
When the idea of an irrigation project is conceived (after reconnaissance survey),
the data to be collected at the feasibility study stage are
1. Physical data : Location, size, phsiography (description of land form which
includes only physical aspects), etc.
2. Hydrological data : Precipitation, Evaporation, transpiration, stream flow,
sediment, water quality etc.
3. Agricultural data : Land classification, crop water requirements, types of crops
etc
4. Geological data : Rock & Soil types, ground water, minerals, erosion, etc.
5. Cartographic data :Topographic & other maps of the area.
6. Ecological data : Types of vegetation, fish & wild life.
7. Demographic data : Population statistics, data of people etc.
8. Economic data : Means of transportation, market, land taxes, etc.
9. Legal data : Water rights, land ownership administrative pattern, etc
10. Data in existing project: Types of Location of various projects.
11. Data on public opinion : Opinions of different section of the society
12.Flood control data : Records of past flood, extent of damage caused, drainage
requirements

12/29/2024 20
 Thank
you!!!
12/29/2024 21