IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING

FOR BACHELOR LEVEL STUDENTS IN CIVIL

ENGINEERING
BCE III/I , TU, IOE

Er. Narayan Prasad Dawadi

npdawadi27@gmail.com

Asst. Professor
Institute of Engineering
Pashchimanchal Campus
Pokhara – 16, Lamachaur, Kaski, Nepal
Course Objectives, Periods and Total Marks

• Objectives:
By teaching irrigation engineering , students know about methods of
irrigation, components of irrigation system and structures, can develop
their ideas in demand analysis of irrigation as well as planning,
designing ,operating and maintenance managements of irrigation
structures and system.
• Periods per week:
Lecture – 3 periods
Tutorial – 2 periods
• Marks:
Total Marks : 100 (Final Examination – 80, Internal Assessment- 20)
Course Contents and Syllabus

1.0 Introduction 4hrs

1.1 Definition, advantages and disadvantages of irrigation

1.2 Status and need of irrigation development in Nepal
1.3 Crops ,their seasons and periods (cropping patterns and intensity)
1.4 Command areas and irrigation intensity
1.5 Methods of field irrigation and their suitability
1.6 Planning of irrigation projects
 2.0 Irrigation water requirements 4 hrs
2.1 Relation between duty, delta and crop periods
2.2 Crop water requirements (Penman’s method)
2.3 Operational water requirements
2.4 Water losses due to seepage and evaporation
2.5 Effective rainfall
2.6 irrigation water requirements
2.7 Soil moisture irrigation relationship
2.8 Depth and frequency of irrigation
2.9 Irrigation efficiencies
2.10 Design discharge of canals
 3.0 Canal irrigation system 3 hrs
3.1 Classification of canals
3.2 Components of canal irrigation system
3.3 Alignments of canal
3.4 Alluvial and non alluvial canals
3.5 Canal standards and balancing canal depth
3.6 Canal distribution system
4.0 Design of canals 6 hrs

4.1 Design capacity of canals

4.2 Sediment transport in canals
4.3 Tractive force approach of canal design
4.4 Design of stable canals
4.5 Design of stable canals ( Kennedy’s and Lacey’s theory)
4.6 Design of lined canals with economic analysis
5.0 Diversion Headworks 8 hrs
5.1 Components parts of Weir/ Barrage (Detailed Drawings)
5.2 Bligh’s, Lane’s and Khosla Seepage Theory
5.3 Design of sloping glacis weir bay (Crest, length and thickness of
impervious floor)
5.4 Design of under sluice and silt excluder
5.5 Design of silt ejector
5.6 Design of head regulator (Crest, length and thickness of impervious
floor)
6.0 River Training Works 4hrs

6.1 River stages and need of river training

6.2 Types of river training works
6.3 Design of guide bund and launching apron
6.4 Design of spurs ( layout geometry, length spacing and cross
sections)
7.0 Regulating Structures 6 hrs
• 7.1 Alignments of the off taking channels
• 7.2 Function of head regulator, cross regulator, outlets, drops and
escapes
• 7.3 Design of regulators and escapes (crest, length and thickness of
impervious floor)
• 7.4 Types of outlets, design of pipe outlet (free and submerged)
• 7.5 types of drops, design of vertical drop (crest, length and thickness of
impervious floor)
8.0 Cross Drainage Structures 4 hrs
• 8.1 Types (drawings and selection)
• 8.2 Design of syphon aqueduct (detail drawing, drainage water way
and barrel, canal water way and transition, length and thickness of
impervious floor and protection works )
9.0 Water logging and drainage 6 hrs
9.1 Causes, effects and preventive measures of water logging
9.2 Water logging and drainage of irrigated land
9.3 Surface drainage system and their design
• 9.3.1 Layout planning for drainage
• 9.3.2 internal drainage of bunded field
Contd…
• 9.3.3 External drainage
• 9.3.4 Drain design ( water level, maximum and minimum slopes and
cross sections)
• 9.3.5 Remodeling of existing natural drains
• 9.4 Sub-surface drainage system and their design
• 9.4.1 Layout of sub-surface drainage system
• 9.4.2 Flow of ground water to drain and spacing of tile drains
Tutorials 30hrs
• Duty, delta and period relation – 1hrs
• Irrigation water requirements – 2hrs
• Soil-moisture irrigation relationship and irrigation interval - 2hrs
• Balancing depth for excavating canals – 1hrs
• Design of stable canals - 1hrs
• Design of alluvial canals - 2hrs
• Design of lined canals - 1hrs
• Design of guide bund and launching apron - 2hrs
• Design of hydraulic structures using Khosla’s seepage theory - 4hrs
• Design of sloping glacis weir bay – 3hrs
• Design of cross and head regulators – 3hrs
• Design of pipe outlets - 1hrs
• Design of vertical drops – 2hrs
• Design of syphon Aqueduct – 4hrs
• Design of surface and sub-surface drains – 2hrs
Reference Books
• Theory and design of irrigation structures, vol- I and II , R S Varshney, S C Gupta and R L Gupta,
1979
• Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures, S K Garg, 1983
• Irrigation Engineering , Gurcharan Singh
• Design manuals for irrigation projects in Nepal, PDSP manuals, M.9 Drainage manuals, 1990
• Hydraulic structures, P. Novak et.al,2001
Others:
Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures, V C Agrawal, 2017
Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures, S R Sahasrabuddhe
Simple design of hill irrigation projects in Nepal, P C Pokhrel
Irrigation Engineering, G S Birdie and Ramchandra Das, 2003
 1.0 Introduction
Definition of Irrigation:
General :
Water is essential for all living creatures such as animals, we humans and plants. Life is not possible and imagined without water. Without food we cannot survive for number of
days. We get food from the crops. But ,without water crops are not possible. So, water is supplied to the crop field to provide sufficient moisture in soil through which crop can
get fertilizers, minerals and nutrients to have sufficient growth for getting maximum production. Water is needed for preparation of land during digging and ploughing, to
maintain soil temperature, to dilute minerals, salts and fertilizers as well as for leaching.
Irrigation is the artificial method of supply of water to the crop from the source by constructing the head work for diverting water to the canal network systems and
conveying of water to the field in accordance to the water requirements of crops during their base periods. Irrigation includes :
i. Training and tapping of sources of water
ii. Storing of water
iii. Conveying that water effectively to the fields (includes drainage of surplus water also)
iv. Supply of water economically for the bumper crop production

Necessity of irrigation:
Irrigation is the supplement to the rainfall. If rainfall is adequate to fulfill the soil moisture deficiency of soil then there is no need of artificial supply of water. But, natural
rainfall / supply of water is not adequate in accordance to the crop’s need at the particular time with the controlled manner. More water content at the rootzone of soil may
produce water logging problem in one hand and less water / or less rain fall / no rainfall may obstruct the crop/plant growth having less production or may die / dry by drought
having no production . Less water or more water in soil ultimately decreases in production. Hence, to get maximum crop yield adequate level of moisture should be retained in
soil according to its requirements during its growth period / crop period. Irrigation is necessary /required in case of :
a) Non uniformity of rainfall – crop production is in average amount if rainfall occurs/ mix cropping trend / Farmers dis-satisfaction
b) Less rainfall- No crop production / drought may occur / chance of famine / leads to migration problem
c) Possibility for growing yearly crops or high water requiring crops like sugarcane / rice/ other cash crops (Modern farming practice for getting high production to have
contribution in national economy).
Status of irrigation in Nepal
Agriculture is the primary economic sector whose contribution is about 30% in GDP of Nepal. Nearly 70 to75%
population dependent on it. Area of Nepal 14.72Million hectares , nearly 18% of total land i.e 2.642 Million ha
is under cultivation, nearly 66% of cultivated land i.e 1.8 M ha is irrigable (1.4MHa in terai/plains and 0.4 M ha
in valleys and hill/mountains). Present Status 42 % of Cultivated Area has some sort of irrigation, 17 %
Cultivated Area has year - round Irrigation • In Terai Irrigated Area: 8,89,000 ha in which 82 % by Surface
Irrigation and 18 % by Ground Water (Tube wells) • Existing Irrigation System Contribute 33 % of Country’s
Current Agriculture Production • By 2027, Irrigation water demand will grow by 185 % as of today (from 13 M
m3 to 37 M m3). 75% of irrigation is managed by farmers themselves where as 25% is by the government
through DOI.
Irrigation Master Plan,1990 had identified a number of potential multipurpose projects such as: Kanaki
Multipurpose Project for Jhapa (38,000 ha), Kamala Multipurpose Project for Siraha/Mahottari (33,000 ha), Sun
Koshi Kamala Diversion Project for Saptari/Sarlahi (1,38,000 ha), Bagmati Multipurpose Project for
Dhanusha/Bara (76,000 ha), West Rapti Multipurpose Project for Kapilvastu/Banke (76,100 ha), Karnali
Multipurpose Project for Banke/Kailali (1,91,000 ha) and Bheri-Babai Diversion Project for Bardiya (53,500
ha).
 Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation
S. No Advantages Dis-advantages
Rise in food production with optimum benefit Cold and wet climate/dampness , cold cough

2 Increase in living standards of farmers Breeding of mosquitoes/ mosquito prone diseases like malaria

3 Domestic use of water (cattle feeding, cleaning, gardening) Accidents / breaching /sinking

4 Elimination of mixed cropping / Introduction to cash crops Expensive project, head works ,regulating & C/D structures,
compare to other small projects as well as its maintenance

5 Communications / inspection roads connects villagers to district / Water logging due to seepage / over irrigation / rise of salt /
city / towns & markets. ground water source pollution

6 Navigations (ship transportation) / Recreations and refreshments Risk of quarrel among farmers for water if there is not effective
management .
7 Afforestation (increase in timber wealth)/ reduces water loss ( Cultivated land is decreased due to coverage of networks of
Evaporation) canals and ditches

8 Fishery/ hydropower generation / water supply etc.

9 Employment opportunity / growth of agro based industries

Types of Irrigation :
1. Surface irrigation: Water is applied over the surface of the land / field which wets soil from top surface towards rootzone and taken by the
crop through the soil.
A. Basis of availability of water source

a) flow irrigation : When source of water is available at higher level and is supplied to low lands by the action of gravity flow also called
gravity irrigation which is common practice in irrigation.
b) lift irrigation : When source of water is available at lower level and is lifted up using mechanical means such as lifting pumps and
motors , supplied to higher lands.
B. Basis of supply of water

a) Perennial irrigation: Water is assumed to be supplied continuous and constant through out according to the crop requirements during its base period. Source of
supply is perennial hence permanent structures are constructed and such system helps in the economy of nation by raising production.

i) Direct irrigation: When source is adequate and water can be supplied continuously by constructing weir across the river to divert water to the canal system.
ii) Storage irrigation: When source is inadequate to supply continuous flow in dry seasons but the excess water during flooded / rainy season can be stored by
constructing reservoir through storage canal headwork of barrage / dams and is utilized for the dry seasons as well.

b) Flood irrigation / Inundation irrigation: Land is allowed to entered the flood water which submerges the field to cause moisture level at saturation and water
level at suitable depth permits for cultivation activities of ploughing as well as planting crops. The moisture soaked by soil is occasionally supplemented by natural
rainfall / minor watering may help the crop to get maturity. No permanent structures are constructed as in perennial irrigation system.
2. Sub-surface irrigation – Water doesn't wet the surface soil and water is supplied at the rootzone of crop and that is utilized by crop for its maturity.
a) Natural sub-surface irrigation: Seeping water from natural channels flow towards low lands by subsurface flow at the rootzone of crop and that is utilized by
the crop or rise of under ground water table provides water at the rootzone by capillary action and helps plants to receive water for its utilization.
b) Artificial sub-surface irrigation: Water is applied at the rootzone of crop by maintaining sub surface flow using networks of perforated pipes and fittings which
is utilized by the crop. This is done when there is scarcity of water, erodable soil not suitable to surface flow in slope lands as well as there is chance of percolation or
evaporation (water losses).
1.3 Crops, their season and Periods
Types of crops:
1. Use:
a) Food grain crops – Rice, maize, wheat, barley, millet etc.
b) Oil crops- Mustard, sesame, sunflower, soya bean, linseed, groundnut etc.
c) Pulses: gram, peas, beans, maans, mung, masur, arhar etc.
d) Fruits/ flowers / Plants- Orange, banana, apple, mango, lemon, teak, bamboo etc.
e) Vegetables- Potato, tomato, green leaves, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, beans, bitter guard, pot guard etc.
f) Herbal/ Spices- Ginger, garlic, cardamom, cumin, coriander, mints and herbs etc.
g) Others : Cotton, sugarcane, jute, tobacco, tea, coffee / cash crops etc.
2. Season:
a) Kharif crops (summer crop) b) Rabi crops (winter crop) c) Yearly crop (through out year)
Kharif: Rice, maize, millet, soya bean, mango, banana, summer vegetables etc.
Rabi : Wheat, barley, mustard, gram, peas, apple, orange, winter vegetables etc.
Yearly : cotton, sugarcane, tea/ coffee, tobacco, fruits/herbs etc.
Important Crops:
`Crops Sowing time Harvesting time Crop period in month Delta Δ cm
Rabi Crops
1. Wheat Oct-Nov March-April 5-6 30-35
2. Gram September March 5-6.5 15
3. Peas October March 5-6.5 45-55
4. Barley October March 5-6 30-35
5.Potatoes October February 4.5-5.5 60-80
Kharif Crops
1. Rice June-July Sept. - Oct. 3-4.5 120-130
2. Maize April-June June-September 4-4.5 35-45
3.Millet Aug.-Sept. Nov.-December 4-5 30
4. Arhar Aug.- Sept. April-May 7-8.5 30
5. Moong August November 4-5 30
Cash Crops/ Others
1. Tobacco October March-April 5-6 65-80
2. Cotton April-July Sept.-June 5-6 45-50
3. Mustard Sept.-Oct. Feb.- March 5-6.5 45
4. Sesame (Til) June- July Oct.-November 4-4.5 30
5. Linseed October March-April 5-6.5 40-45
Command Areas and Intensity of Irrigation

1.0 Gross Command Area(GCA):

It is the total area of land that is bounded by the drainage network so that irrigation can be provided
within it. It consists of both cultivated as well as uncultured areas ( where cultivation is not possible,
jungles, residential areas, parks, roads, airports, rocky baren lands etc.)
2.0 Culturable Command Area (CCA ):
It is the portion of GCA where cultivation is possible i.e GCA- non cultivated area. It is of two types.
a) Culturable cultivated area:
It is the portion of CCA where cultivation is done in all seasons as in the previous years trends i.e.
particular crops are sown in the particular seasons in that area.
b) Culturable non cultivated area:
It is the portion of CCA where cultivation is not done in all seasons or different crops are sown in the
particular seasons in rotation to prevent land from being water logged or remains uncultivated in
some seasons to provide pastures for grazing animals or continuous cultivation may decrease/ reduce
the fertility of soil ,so to increase fertility of soil it is left uncultivated
Intensity of irrigation :
It is the factor which is expressed in percentage area of culturable command area in which particular types of
crops are sown and is supplied by irrigation water during its base period. Example intensity of irrigation for
wheat is of 40% means 40% part of culturable cultivated area is sown with wheat and is provided with irrigation
during its base period with required total depth of water delta of wheat.
Methods of field irrigation & their Suitability
Surface irrigation ?
Water is supplied / applied over the top surface of soil and is allowed to infiltrate / absorb into the under lying soil and is utilized by
the crops/plants .
Methods of surface irrigation:
a) Flooding Method - i) Wild flooding (Uncontrollded flooding) ii) Controlled flooding
b) Furrow method
c) Contour farming
a) In flooding method of irrigation whole land is covered with the irrigation water.
i) Wild flooding (Uncontrolled flooding):
Water is applied in the field without controlling mechanism i.e flood water is allowed to enter the unprepared large area of
land as of inundation irrigation. Such method is possible only for the fields near / around the stream/ rivers.
ii) Controlled flooding : water is supplied in the field through surface irrigation with controlling mechanism i.e required
amount of water can be supplied to the particular field as our wish.
a) Free flooding: Suitable for field having hard soil and not properly prepared. Since hard soil allows small quantity of
water to penetrate inside it , field is freely filled up with water for considerable time by dividing fields into large plots. Irrigation is
done with permanent supply water courses.
b) Contour laterals: suitable in hilly area, contour laterals are the subsidiary ditches provided along the contour of the
ground at suitable interval and water is supplied lower side of contour laterals.
Contd…
c) Border Strip: Numbers of fields (strips) separated / divided by low level levees (Border), size of strip: length 100-400m
& width 10-20m. Suitable for levelled land in plains. Water is supplied through ditch into each strip at slower rate and flows
towards lower end and infiltrates into the soil as it advances. When water reaches the lower end supply is cutoff. Suitable for
wheat.
d) Check flooding: Similar to ordinary flooding except water is controlled by surrounding the checks (plots) with low & flat
levees constructed along the contours with the vertical interval of 5 to 10cm. Area of check 0.2 to 0.8 ha. Water is supplied at
higher rate and allowed to stand until it infiltrates. Suitable for more permeable soil or less permeable soil.
e) Basin flooding: Suitable for orchard plants. Plants are sown in the basin and are supplied through supply ditch. There may
be single or many plants in a basin. Connecting ditches between basins may also be provided.
f) Zig-zag flooding: land is provided with circuitous route of water flow by providing small low level levees as shown in
figure. When water reaches the dead end of route, supply is cutoff. Suitable for closed grain crop like sugarcane and not
suitable for using machine farming.
 2. Furrow method 3. Contour Farming Sprinkler irrigation

2. Land is divided into ridges and furrows (field ditches) as shown in figure. Depth of furrow 20 to 30cm, longitudinal slope 1 in 100 to 1
in 300. common length of furrow 100 to 200m. 25 to 50% surface of land is wetted by water. Generally used for vegetable crops such as
potato, cauliflower, cabbage , carrot , onion etc. Suitable for the area where there is risk of water logging (black cotton soil), method
permits early ploughing and cultivation after irrigation.
3. Practiced in hilly area of Nepal, land plot is constructed according to the contours of ground by terracing along the sloppy terrain as
shown in figure. The vertical interval of plots may be 1 to 1.5m and the hill top source is utilized for providing water and supplied to the
top most contour and allowed to flow towards lower contour plots successively below them. Such system helps to control soil erosion
problem in slopes of hills.
Sprinkler irrigation
Water is applied in the form of artificial rainfall using the networks of pump, pipe fittings and nozzles. Suitable for sloppy land having
erodible soil or highly permeable soil chance of water loss due to percolation / infiltration and surface irrigation by flooding / furrow
method is not suitable and the area is having scarcity of water.
a) Temporary / portable system: Main , sub main and vertical pipes and sprinkler nozzles can be removed after irrigation.
b) Semi permanent system: Main, submain are buried permanently in the ground and cannot be removed where as vertical pipes and
nozzles can be removed.
c) Permanent system: All the networks of pipes are permanently fixed and they need not be
removed.
Subsurface: (Drip/trickle irrigation)
Water is supplied at the rootzone of plant through the networks of pumps , perforated pipes/ pipes fittings, drip
nozzles/emitters etc. Such system uses very small quantity of water for irrigation. Supply through emitters is made at slow
rate of 1-3 liters per hour. Useful in an arid reason having highly permeable soil as in deserts where water scarcity is highly
prone. Not suitable for high water requiring crops like paddy as well as plants having deep root zone. Now a days it is popular
and practiced in Nepal for growing vegetables like tomato, cucumber, beans etc. in tunnels using drip irrigation system.
Initial cost is high, skilled manpower is required, energy/electricity required,
Clean water should be used.
1.6 Planning of Irrigation Projects
Irrigation requires source of water, conveyance system from the source to the field and distribution within the fields.
In planning we have to analyze the water requirements and water resources.
These two helps to determine maxm area that could be served by the system. The size and capacity of the system is
determined based on the water requirements during peak demand periods ( Kharif or Rabi season).
Finally technical feasible solution is worked out and its economical viability is worked out.
Planning Aspects:
A) Agricultural aspects- water is essential for plants as solvent and carrier of nutrients as medium for the biological
processes and to regulate temperature by transpiration. So additional water may be applied by irrigation if natural
rainfall is not sufficient. Three irrigation strategies :

Conditions Strategies

a) Where rainfall is low, production would not be possible Complete irrigation is required
without irrigation
b) Rainfall is usually adequate but improved Supplement irrigation is required
quality, quantity / intensity is required
c) Risk of inadequate rainfall, threat of crop damage / failure by Protective irrigation is required increasing security
drought
Contd..
Principle things considered in planning of irrigation from agricultural view are:
a) The climate/ season: Determines amount of water needed and its requirements over time.
b) The plant: individual plant has its own water need.
c) The soil: storage of water having variable capacities
Cropping pattern, effective rainfall, size of irrigation area, crop water requirements etc. finally determines water needed for
irrigation.
B) Engineering Aspects: Technical aspects of studying the possibility of providing water from the source to the required field
with feasible and sound conveyance and distribution system. The factors to be considered are:
a) Water source: determines quality and quantity of water available for irrigation.
b) Topography: determines the layout of system and methods of water distribution and application.
c) Arrangements and dimensions of canals/structures: helps to design of structures to meet hydraulic, functional and
stability requirements and standards.
d) Safety and sustainability of scheme: must satisfy operational as well as environmental needs.

C) Social and Economical Aspects: study of location and general food supply situations and possibility of boost production
by analyzing near by market after providing irrigation. Society should be benefited. Economical analysis must be carried,
B/C ratio ≥ 1 ; EIRR > 10%.
Thank you!!!