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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.
Water is normally supplied to the plants by nature through the rains.
Generally the following are some of the factors that necessitate irrigation.
- inadequate rainfall
- uneven distribution of Rainfall
- increasing the yield of the crops
- growing a number of crops
- insuring against drought.
- growing perennial crops.
Scope of Irrigation Engineering
Irrigation Engineering is not only confined to the application of water to the land for raising crops

Various aspects of Irrigation Engineering is:

Water Resources and Hydrology Aspect – To locate various water sources and to study the hydrology
of the region

1. 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.

1.1 BENEFITS AND ILL- EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION

There are various direct and indirect advantages of irrigation.
- Increase in food production: Irrigation helps in increasing crop yields through controlled and
timely supply of water to the crop.
Optimum benefits: optimal utilization of water is made possible by irrigation.

Domestic water supply:- irrigation helps in augmenting the town water supply where water is available
with great difficulty

Ill-Effects of Irrigation
Ill-effects of irrigation occur only when the scheme is not properly designed and implemented
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Water logging:

1. 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.
2. Irrigation may result in colder and damper climate causing outbreak of disease like malaria.
3. 1.3 IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT IN ETHIOPIA
4. Ethiopia is the “water tower” of North Eastern Africa
5.
Functions of Irrigation water
The function of soil moisture in plant growth are diversified
1. 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 chemical action within the
plant, leading to its growth.

2. Some salt present in soil react to produce nourishing food products only in the presence of
water
3. Water cools the soil and the atmosphere and thus makes more favorable environment for
healthy plant growth.
4. Irrigation water, with controlled supplies, washes out or dilutes salts in the soil
5. It reduces the hazard of soil piping.
6. 1.4 STANDARDS OF IRRIGATION WATER
7. Every water is not suitable for irrigation

1.4 STANDARDS OF IRRIGATION WATER

1. Every water is not suitable for irrigation

2. There are two main causes of salinity: Salinity caused by the supply of irrigation water and
Salinity caused by the upward movement of water

The process is called leaching. This is one of the reasons why irrigation systems also require drainage
systems.
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1. Sediment: its effect depends upon the type of irrigated land when fine sediment from water
is deposited on sandy soils the fertility
2. Total concentration of soluble salts: Salts, when present in excessive quantities, reduce
osmotic activities of the plants and may prevent adequate aeration
3. 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.
4.
5. Low Conductivity (low salinity) 100-250 micromhos/cm
6. Medium conductivity 250-750 micromhos/cm
7. High conductivity 750-2250 micromhos/cm
8. Very high conductivity >2250 micromhos at 250C
9.

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 (CaSo 4).

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

e. Potentially toxic elements: elements like Boron, Selenium, etc may be toxic to plants.
The following guidelines can be used in assessing the water quality for irrigation.

I. Salinity status: ECw and TDS

II. Infiltration capacity: this can be done by estimating SAR and ECw , salinity & sodium
content.
III. 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
iv. Miscellaneous effect: Nitrogen NO3 - N , Bicarbonate (HCO3) - for
overhead irrigation

The common procedures adopted in the development of an irrigation project are:

1. Sites are located on the toposheet.
2. The marked sites are inspected (reconnaissance) to decide their feasibility.
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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?

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), climate, 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
Information to be collected includes
Land suitability is the fitness of a land-mapping unit for a defined
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Land evaluation is the selection of suitable land, and suitable cropping, irrigation and management

The four basic features of land suitability for irrigated agriculture are

 Irrigable terrain (land forms)

 Potentially fertile soil
 A climate in which the crop can thrive (develop well & be healthy)
 A reliable source of water of consistent quality
Soil survey:

This includes
 Identification of soil types.
 Field observation of infiltration.
 Field observation of hydraulic conductivity.
 Water table depth and fluctuation.
 Workability of the soil.
 Absence or presence of soil salinity.

Soil survey recognizes the relation between terrain or phyisography and soils.

Water resources
Hydrological survey and Hydro-geological are undertaken to asses surface and sub-surface water
resources of the catchments respectively

Data sources
Surface water supplies from long – term records of stream flows, by stream gauging and water
quality.

Present farm practices

 The number of farms of different sizes

 Farming methods in use
 Land areas cultivated and irrigated