Irrigation Engineering

CE - 633

Rajpal Singh Shekhawat

Lecturer (Civil Engineering)
Pusa Institute of Technology
 SYLLABUS

1. Introduction
2. Methods of Irrigation
3. Water Requirement of Crops
4. Hydrological Cycle Catchment Area and Run-off
5. Canals
6. Canal Head Works
7. Regulatory and Cross Drainage works
8. Dams
9. Definitions of Hydraulic Structures with Sketches
10.Water logging and Drainage
11.Tube well Irrigation
12.River Training Works
 UNIT 2 : METHODS OF IRRIGATION

1. Flow irrigation - its advantages and limitations

2. Lift Irrigation – Tube well and open well irrigation,
their advantages and disadvantages
3. Sprinkler irrigation conditions favourable and
essential requirements for sprinkler irrigation,
sprinkler system – classification and component
parts
4. Drip irrigation, suitability of drip irrigation, layout,
component parts, Advantages
TYPES OF IRRIGATION
 SURFACE IRRIGATION
• SURFACE IRRIGATION IS DEFINED AS
THE GROUP OF APPLICATION
TECHNIQUES WHERE WATER IS
APPLIED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER THE
SOIL SURFACE BY GRAVITY.
• IT IS BY FAR THE MOST COMMON
FORM OF IRRIGATION THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD AND HAS BEEN
PRACTICED IN MANY AREAS
VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED FOR
THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
• IN ALL THE SURFACE METHODS OF
IRRIGATION, WATER IS EITHER
PONDED ON THE SOIL OR ALLOW TO
FLOW CONTINUOUSLY OVER THE SOIL
SURFACE FOR THE DURATION OF
IRRIGATION.
 FLOW IRRIGATION
• WHEN THE WATER IS AVAILABLE AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND
IT IS SUPPLIED TO THE LOWER LEVEL BY THE ACTION OF
GRAVITY THEN IT IS CALLED FLOW IRRIGATION.

• IN FLOW IRRIGATION WATER IS SUPPLIED TO THE FIELDS

THOUGH THE CANALS OFF TAKING FROM HEAD WORKS.

• FLOW IRRIGATION CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO TYPES.

1. PERENNIAL IRRIGATION
2. FLOOD OR INUNDATION IRRIGATION
1. PERENNIAL IRRIGATION:
• IN THIS IRRIGATION, CONSTANT AND CONTINUOUS WATER
SUPPLY IS ASSURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE CROP THROUGHOUT THE CROP
PERIOD. IN THIS TYPE, SOURCE OF WATER IS FROM A RIVER
WHICH IS PERENNIAL.
• A WEIR OR BARRAGE IS CONSTRUCTED ACROSS A PERENNIAL
RIVER. SOMETIMES DAM MAY BE CONSTRUCTED TO FORM A
RESERVOIR UPSTREAM. MAIN CANAL WITH A REGULATOR IS
CONSTRUCTED WHERE ONE OR BOTH BANKS SUPPLY WATER
TO THE CROP FIELD. THIS TYPE IS RELIABLE AS WATER IS
AVAILABLE DURING THE WHOLE PERIOD OF YEAR.
• IT IS ALSO CALLED CONTROLLED IRRIGATION.
• PERENNIAL IRRIGATION MAY BE EITHER DIRECT OR STORAGE.
a) DIRECT IRRIGATION, DIVERSION SCHEME:
IN DIRECT IRRIGATION SYSTEM WATER IS DIRECTLY DIVERTED FROM THE
RIVER INTO CANAL BY CONSTRUCTION OF DIVERSION WEIR OR BARRAGE
ACROSS THE RIVER WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO STORE WATER. THIS
METHOD IS PRACTICED WHERE THE RIVER HAS ADEQUATE PERENNIAL
SUPPLY TO FEED THE CANAL SYSTEM AT THE TIMES OF CROPS PERIODS.
B) STORAGE IRRIGATION, STORAGE SCHEME:
IN THIS IRRIGATION, A DAM IS CONSTRUCTED ACROSS A RIVER TO STORE
WATER DURING MONSOON AND IT IS SUPPLIED TO THE CHANNEL DURING
LOW FLOW. EVIDENTLY STORAGE IRRIGATION IS ADOPTED WHERE THE
RIVER IS NON 'PERENNIAL OR FLOW IN THE RIVER IS INADEQUATE DURING
LEAN PERIOD. STORAGE IRRIGATION HAS GREATER IRRIGATION
POTENTIAL THAN THE DIRECT IRRIGATION BUT IS COSTLY DUE TO THE
COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF DAM. A NETWORK OF CANAL SYSTEM IS USED
AND BIGGER AREA COULD BE IRRIGATED TO RAISE MORE CROPS.
2. FLOOD/INUNDATION IRRIGATION:
• IT IS THAT TYPE OF IRRIGATION IN WHICH NO CONTROL
STRUCTURES LIKE BARRAGE, DAM OR WEIR ARE CONSTRUCTED.
DURING RAINY SEASON, WATER LEVEL IN THE RIVER RISES AND
CANAL BED LEVEL IS KEPT BELOW HIGH FLOOD LEVEL (HFL) OF THE
RIVER. THE PORTION OF WATER ABOVE THE CANAL BED IS DIVERTED
TO INUNDATE THE CROP FIELD.
• THIS INUNDATION WATER IS DRAINED OFF OR ALLOWED TO ABSORB
IN THE CROP FIELD PRIOR TO PLANTING THE CROP. THE WHOLE
SYSTEM DEPENDS ON THE WATER LEVEL IN THE RIVER. ALTHOUGH
NO SUCH EXPENDITURE IS INVOLVED IN THIS SYSTEM, OVER-
IRRIGATION MAY DAMAGE THE CROPS. THEREFORE THIS SYSTEM IS
NOT POPULAR.
• IT IS PRACTICED NEAR RIVERS, ALLUVIAL AND DELTAIC REGION.
• IT IS ALSO CALLED IRRIGATION.
 ADVANTAGES OF FLOW IRRIGATION
1. THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF USING A FLOW IRRIGATION
METHOD IS A VERY LOW ENERGY REQUIREMENT AND EASE
IN THE SYSTEM DESIGN.
2. FLOW IRRIGATION IS THE MOST ANCIENT IRRIGATION
TECHNIQUE AND DOESN’T REQUIRE SOPHISTICATED
TECHNOLOGY TO WORK.
3. IT IS CHEAPEST MEAN OF IRRIGATION.
4. ALLUVIAL SOIL PRESENT IN IRRIGATION WATER MAKE THE
SOIL MORE FERTILE.
5. THIS IS A NATURE-FRIENDLY SYSTEM, YOU CAN UTILIZE
RAINWATER.
6. SUITABLE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INFILTRATION RATES AND
LEVELED LANDS.
7. IT IS LABOUR INTENSIVE.
 DISADVANTAGE OF FLOW IRRIGATION
1. DEPENDENT ON YOUR TERRAIN: FOR FLOW IRRIGATION TO WORK,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR TERRAIN ACCOMMODATE FOR IT, WHETHER
IT’S BY CREATING FURROWS TO CHANNEL THE WATER THROUGH, OR
DEPENDING ON A SLIGHT NATURAL SLOPE TO LET GRAVITY DO ITS
WORK. UNEXPECTED CHANGES OR DISTURBANCES IN YOUR LAND
COULD DISRUPT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS IRRIGATION.
2. WATER LOGGING: ONE RISK THAT FLOW IRRIGATION HAS IS
CHANNELLING TOO MUCH WATER INTO YOUR CROPS, WHICH CAN
DROWN THE ROOTS AND BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. CARE HAS TO BE
TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM DOESN’T
OVERWHELM YOUR PLANTS WITH WATER.
3. HIGH WATER DEMAND THAN MODERN IRRIGATION FOR SAME CROP.
4. CHANCES OF EROSION. NOT APPLICABLE ON SOIL WITH A HIGH-
FILTRATION RATE.
5. PLANTS ARE ALWAYS COVERED WITH WATER EVEN WHEN THEY DO
NOT NEED IT AND LESS PRODUCTION DUE TO EXCESS WATER.
 LIFT IRRIGATION
• LIFT IRRIGATION IS THE PROCESS OF LIFTING WATER NORMALLY FROM
UNDERGROUND SOURCES AND SOMETIME FROM SURFACE SOURCE BY
PUMP, I.E. MECHANICAL POWER OR MAN OR ANIMAL POWER AND THEN
DIRECT THIS LIFTED WATER TO THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD.
• LIFT IRRIGATION IS PRACTICED WHEN THE WATER- SUPPLY IS AT TOO
LOW A LEVEL TO RUN BY GRAVITATION ON TO THE LAND.
• LIFT IRRIGATION IS INCREASINGLY PRACTICED IN INDIA.
• IN LIFT IRRIGATION MECHANICAL DEVICES LIKE PUMPS OR ELECTRIC
MOTOR ARE REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED FOR LIFTING WATER.
• DISTRIBUTION OF WATER IS DONE BY GRAVITATIONAL METHOD..
• AT FIRST A CONTOUR MAP IS PREPARED AND THE PLACES WHICH IS TO
BE IRRIGATED IS BLOCKED ACCORDING TO THERE NEED. REQUIRED DIA
PIPE LINES AND NEEDED VALVES ARE PLACED FOR THE DISTRIBUTION.
• LIFT IRRIGATION MAY BE OF THREE TYPES:
1. LIFT FROM CANAL(RIVERS)
2. OPEN WELL IRRIGATION
3. TUBE WELL IRRIGATION
1. LIFT FROM CANAL(RIVERS):
• PUMPS OR ELECTRIC MOTORS ARE USED TO LIFT THE WATER
FROM CANALS OR RIVERS AT LOWER LEVEL TO THE AREA AT
HIGHER LEVEL FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSE.
• THIS METHOD IS APPLIED TO THE AREA WHERE THE WATER
LEVEL IN RIVER OR CANAL LIES BELOW THE GROUND SURFACE.
• WATER IS TRANSPORTED TO THE AGRICULTURAL LAND BY THE
MEANS OF SERIES OF FIELD CANAL OR PVC PIPES.
• THIS METHOD OF IRRIGATION REQUIRE HIGH ENERGY
REQUIREMENT FOR PUMPS.
• THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER IN CANALS OR RIVERS IS MAIN
CRITERIA FOR THIS IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
• IN INDIA, MANY VILLAGES USE THIS IRRIGATION SYSTEM FOR
FARMING CROPS IN AGRICULTURAL LAND.
2. OPEN WELL IRRIGATION:
• IN VILLAGES THERE ARE SOME OPEN HOLES WHOSE DEPTH
INTERCEPTS THE WATER TABLE. SO THE WATER IS TAKEN OUT
FROM LOWER LEVEL TO THE SURFACE FOR IRRIGATION
PURPOSE BY ADOPTING DIFFERENT MECHANICAL MEANS.
• OPEN WELLS GENERALLY OPEN MASONRY WELLS, HAVING
COMPARATIVELY BIGGER DIAMETERS AND ARE SUITABLE FOR
LOW DISCHARGES OF THE ORDER OF 1-5 LTS/SECOND.
• THE DIAMETER OF OPEN WELLS VARY FROM 2 TO 9 M AND
THEY ARE GENERALLY LESS THAN 20 M IN DEPTH. THE WALLS
OF AN OPEN WELL MAY BE BUILT OF PRECAST CONCRETE
RINGS OR IN BRICK OR STONE MASONRY.
• THE YIELD OF AN OPEN WELL IS LIMITED BECAUSE SUCH
WELLS CAN BE EXCAVATED ONLY TO A LIMITED DEPTH WHERE
THE GROUND WATER STORAGE IS ALSO LIMITED.
ADVANTAGES OF OPEN WELL IRRIGATION:
• THERE IS NO NEED OF CONSTRUCTING MANY AND EXPENSIVE
HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES. THE COST OF WELL IRRIGATION PROJECT
IS THEREFORE MUCH LESS.
• WHENEVER NECESSITY IS FELT, WELL MAY BE SUNK TO START OPEN
WELL IRRIGATION. MUCH CONSIDERATION NEED NOT BE GIVEN TO
ANY FACTORS.
• WHEN THE WATER IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE SUBSOIL FORMATION
BY MEANS OF WELLS THE WATERS TABLE OBVIOUSLY LOWERS AND
WATER LOGGING OF THE LAND IS PREVENTED.
• THE WATER IS USED MORE ECONOMICALLY AS CULTIVATOR HAS TO
PUT IN LABOUR FOR LIFTING WATER.
• THE WATER CAN BE USED AT ANY TIME DEPENDING UPON THE
CHOICE OF CULTIVATOR AND WATER NEEDS OF CROPS.
• AS THE WATER IS ASSURED FOR WHOLE OF THE YEAR, PROVIDED
GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE, TWO TO THREE
CORPS CAN BE GROWN ON THE SAME FIELD IN ONE YEAR.
ADVANTAGES OF OPEN WELL IRRIGATION:
• MAINTENANCE COST OF A WELL IS LESS. ALSO AS THE
WELL IS SITUATED USUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
FIELD WATER LOSSES IN TRANSIT ARE LESS.
• BY CONSTRUCTING NUMBER OF WELLS IN ANY TRACT
INTENSIVE IRRIGATION OF SOME VALUABLE CROPS CAN
BE DONE.
• IN WELL IRRIGATION DUTY REALIZED IS HIGHER.
• WELL WATER IS COOLER IN SUMMER SEASON AND
WARMER IN WINTER SEASON. THIS WATER WHEN APPLIED
TO THE CROPS, TRIES TO NEUTRALIZE THE BAD EFFECTS
OF THE HOT OR COLD SEASON.
DISDVANTAGES OF OPEN WELL IRRIGATION:
• TO MAKE THE WATER AVAILABLE FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES IT IS
NECESSARY TO LIFT IT FROM UNDERGROUND. FOR LIFTING THE WATER
POWER IS REQUIRED. THUS THE WELL IRRIGATION IS MUCH DEPENDENT
ON THE AVAILABILITY OF POWER OR TROUBLE FREE WORKING OF THE
MACHINERY WHICH IS VERY RARE THING.
• SOMETIMES COST OF WELL WATER IS SO HIGH THAT THE RETURNS
OBTAINED FROM IT ARE NOT JUSTIFIABLE.
• AVAILABILITY OF WATER FROM THE WELLS DEPENDS ON GROUNDWATER
STORAGE. THE DISCHARGE FROM WELL IS LOW AND AREA COMMANDED
IS LESS.
• THE WATER IN WELL IS STATIC AND THEREFORE IT IS FREE OF
SUSPENDED SILT. WATER CARRYING SILT TOGETHER WITH SOME USEFUL
SUSPENDED SALTS IS VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE CROPS. WELL WATER
THUS LACKS IN THIS RESPECT.
• DISSOLVED SALTS GENERALLY PRESENT IN GROUND WATER, IT IS NOT
BENEFICIARY FOR CROPS.
2. TUBE WELL IRRIGATION:
• TUBE WELL IS A DEEPER WELL (GENERALLY OVER 15 METRES DEEP)
FROM WHICH WATER IS LIFTED WITH THE HELP OF A PUMPING SET
OPERATED BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OR A DIESEL ENGINE.
• A TUBE WELL IS A LONG PIPE OR A TUBE IS BORED OR DRILLED DEEP
INTO THE GROUND INTERCEPTING ONE OR MORE WATER BEARING
STRATUM. THE PIPE FITTED WITH STRAINER WHICH ALLOW WATER
TO PASS THROUGH BUT PREVENT SAND FROM COMING IN.
• BECAUSE OF STRAINER HIGH VELOCITY CAN BE PERMITTED
WITHOUT DANGER OF SOIL PARTICLES BEING CARRIED AWAY WITH
WATER.
• A TUBE WELL CAN TAB MORE THAN ONE WATER BEARING STRATUM.
DUE TO THIS, TUBE WELL HAS HIGH YIELD THAN OPEN WELL. THE
DISCHARGE OF TUBE WELL IS ABOUT 45 TO 60 LTS/SEC.
• DEPTH OF TUBE WELL ≈ 70-300 M. DIAMETER OF TUBE WELL ≈ 0.6 TO
0.5 M.
ADVANTAGES OF TUBE WELL IRRIGATION:
• ISOLATED LAND WHICH CAN NOT BE SERVED BY CANALS CAN BE
EASILY IRRIGATED BY TUBE WELLS.
• CULTIVATORS CAN HAVE THEIR OWN PRIVATE TUBE WELLS. THEY CAN
OPERATE AT ANY TIME WHEN REQUIRED.
• TUBE WELL CAN BE CONSTRUCTED WHEREVER REQUIRED IN A SMALL
TIME AND WITH LESSER FUND.
• TUBE WELL ENSURE OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OF WATER.
• TUBE WELL CHANNELS ARE OF SHORTER LENGTH AND GENERALLY
LINED, THUS RESULTING IN LESSER PERCOLATION LOSSES.
• IT HELPS IN REDUCING WATER LOGGING BY LOWERING THE GWT.
• WELL WATER IS MORE PURE THAN CANAL WATER.
• THE LAND ACQUISITION IS LESS FOR TUBE WELL IRRIGATION.
DISADVANTAGES OF TUBE WELL IRRIGATION:
• IF THE ELECTRIC SUPPLY FAILS, THE PUMP OF TUBE WELLS CAN NOT
BE OPERATED.
• THE TUBE WELL WATER PROVES MUCH COSTLIER THAN CANAL
WATER.
• ONLY LIMITED AREA CAN BE IRRIGATED. NORMALLY, A WELL CAN
IRRIGATE 1 TO 8 HECTARES OF LAND.
• THE LIFE OF TUBE WELL IS LIMITED.
• FREQUENT BREAKDOWN OF POWER AND MOTOR PARTS CAUSE
LARGE SCALE INTERRUPTION IN THE WORKING OF TUBE WELLS.
• TUBE WELL IRRIGATION IS NOT POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF BRACKISH
GROUNDWATER.
• TUBE WELLS CAN DRAW A LOT OF GROUNDWATER FROM ITS
NEIGHBOURING AREAS AND MAKE THE GROUND DRY AND UNFIT FOR
AGRICULTURE.
 Open well irrigation Tube well irrigation
Draw water from upper water bearing Draw water from one or more water
stratum bearing stratum

Discharge is smaller than tube well Discharge is larger than open well

Flow velocity of water is small Flow velocity of water is large

Water quality is low compare to tube Water quality is high as compare to

well water open well water

It can not be used where the GWT is It can be used for high depth water
located at much higher depth. table.
Advantages and Disdvantages of Flow and Lift irrigation
IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES
Free flooding
Free flooding
Free flooding
Check flooding
Cheek flooding
 Cheek flooding

• This method is suitable for more permeable soils as well as

less permeable soils.
• The water can be quickly spread in case of high permeable
soils, thus reducing the percolation losses.
• The water can also be held on the surface for a longer time in
case of less permeable soils, for assuring adequate penetration.
Border flooding
Border flooding
Border flooding
Basin flooding
Basin flooding
Furrow method
 Furrow method

Row crops such as potatoes, maize,

cotton, sugarcane, vegetable etc. can be
irrigated by furrow method
Sub-Surface irrigation
 Sub-Surface irrigation

Conditions that favor subsurface Irrigation:

1. A very permeable subsoil of reasonably uniform texture permitting
good lateral and upward movement of water.
2. Permeable loam or sandy loam surface soil.
3. Uniform topographic conditions and moderate slope.
4. Existence of high water table.
5. Irrigation water is scarce and costly.
6. Soils should be free of any salinity problem.
 Sprinkler Irrigation
➢ It is an overhead irrigation, in which water is distributed
through a system of pipes usually by pumping under
pressure.
➢ It is then sprayed into the air and irrigate entire soil
surface through spray heads so that it breaks up into small
water drops which fall to the ground.
➢ The spray is developed by flow of water under pressure
through small orifices of nozzles.
➢ Pressurized irrigation through devices called sprinklers.
Revolving sprinkler heads are usually located on the
rising pipes attached to the laterals.
➢ The water jet comes out through the revolving sprinkler
heads, with force.
 Objectives of Sprinkler Irrigation
➢ To develop a smart irrigation system in order to get a
significant saving in the consumption of water to irrigate the
crops.
➢ To control the water application convenient for giving light
and frequent irrigation and higher water application efficiency.
➢ To use soluble fertilizers and chemicals.
➢ To provide sufficient flow capacity to meet the irrigation
demand.
➢ To reduce the erosion of soil that is common in surface
irrigation system.
➢ To conduct fundamental and applied research in water
management.
➢ To ensure uniform distribution of water.
 Sprinkler Irrigation

(viii) All crops are suitable except crops like paddy, jute etc.
(ix) It can advantageously be used for many crops, because it fulfills the normal
requirement of uniform distribution of water.
(x) This method possesses great potentialities for irrigating the areas, where other type of
surface or sub-surface irrigation are very difficult.
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Essential requirements of Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
Layout of Sprinkler Irrigation system
Trickle/ Drip irrigation
 Drip irrigation
➢ It can be defined as slow and frequent application of water to the
plant root zone under low pressure.
➢ It uses the water very economically and efficiently.
➢ It applies the correct quantity of water to the plant at the root zone
through a network of pipes.
➢ Water used is about 10% of flooding method thus save water.
➢ Weeds are controlled because only the places getting water can grow
weeds.
➢ There is reduced evaporation, only potential transpiration is
considered.
➢ There is no need for a drainage system.
➢ There is a low pressure system.
➢ Irrigation efficiency is about 80%
Drip irrigation
 Drip irrigation
This system involves laying of system of heads, mains, sub-mains, laterals, and drop nozzles.
Water oozes out of these small drip nozzles uniformly and at very small rates directly into the
plants roots area.
Layout of Drip irrigation
 Suitability of Drip irrigation

➢ This method is suitable for the area, where there is scarcity of water.
➢ This methods is suitable for all type of soil.
➢ It is suitable in all type of topographical feature of the agricultural
land.
➢ It is suitable for the crops whose individual plants located at some
distance from each other such as coconut, mango, banana etc.
➢ It is suitable for the land having water logging problem.
Components of Drip irrigation system
 Selection of irrigation system
Following are some factors which affect the selection of an
irrigation system for a specific area:
• Compatibility of the irrigation system
• Topographical characteristics of area
• Economics and cost of the irrigation method
• Type of Soils
• Water supply
• Crops to be irrigated
• Type of technology
• Previous experience with irrigation
• Required labour inputs
• Local traditions and skills