Irrigation Engineering

By: Tadesse Shimels

Course Outline
1.Duty- delta relationship
2.Determination of irrigation requirements of crops
3.Irrigation efficiencies
Ch 1: INTRODUCTION
4.Irrigation Scheduling.
Definition, necessity and scope of irrigation
3.4.1 Depth and interval of irrigation.
Engineering
3.4.2 Irrigation Scheduling in a command area.
1.Benefits of irrigation, ill effects of irrigation
Ch 4: PLANNING AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF
2.Types of irrigation
SURFACE IRRIGATION METHODS
3.Standards of irrigation water.
5.Surface irrigation Methods
4.Water quality testing of irrigation water
6.Criteria for the selection of the various methods.
5.History and future of irrigation development in
7.Detailed analysis and design for various surface
Ethiopia
irrigation methods
Ch 2: SOIL – PLANT – WATER – RELATIONSHIP
4.3.1 Flood irrigation
6.Soil physical properties Influencing Irrigation
4.3.2 Basin irrigation.
7.Soil –water relationship ; Kinds of soil water
4.3.3 Border irrigation
8.Soil moisture Characteristics ; Soil moisture
4.3.4 Furrow irrigation.
Constants
Ch 5: PLANNING AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF
9.Soil moisture measurement
PRESSURIZED IRRIGATION METHODS
Ch 3: CROP WATER REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Pressurized irrigation methods
10.Consumptive use of water and various
5.2 Criteria for selection of pressurized irrigation
methods of determining it
•Blaney – criddle method methods
•Pan evaporation method 5.3 Detailed analysis and design of sprinkler irrigation
•Penman – method system
References:

• Arora , (2000), Irrigation , water power and water resources

Engineering
• Hansen , V.E Israelson and Stringham , (1979), Irrigation principles
and practices.
• Michael A.M (1978). Irrigation: Theory and practice.
• Richard H. Cuenca (1989), Irrigation System Design: An Engineering
Approach.
• Sharasrabudhe , S.R. 1994 Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic
Structures
• FAO publications : FAO 24 , 33
• and many more…
Evaluation???
 Chapter-1
Definition and scope of irrigation
engineering

• It could be defined as:

Artificial application of water to the land
- The target is to fill the gap between supply and demand
...Cont
• Existing potential of the country
 Water
- Rainfall
- Surface water potential
- GW potential
- Lake water
 Land
- Irrigable land potential
 Manpower
- Productive
...Cont

• If the country has this much potential, why artificial application?

• 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 to insure against drought.
To grow perennial crops.
Types of irrigation
• Depending on the driving energy
1- Surface irrigation
- Open channel flow, i.e. the pressure on the water surface is
atmospheric pressure
- The driving energy is gravity
2- Pressurized irrigation
- Pipe flow
- Pressure supply is required
*Which one do you think is more efficient?
* what is efficiency means?
 Scope of irrigation engineering
• It is not confined only in the application of water
• Rather it comprises different disciplines, including:
 Hydrology Water resource aspect
River Engineering
the design and construction of hydraulic and irrigation structures: Engineering
aspect
 It also deals with surface and subsurface drainage systems, soil reclamation,
and water-soil –crop relationships.
Other allied sciences such as flood control, hydropower, and navigation are also
studied in IRRIGATION Engineering.
Advantages and disadvantages of Irrigation
Engineering
Advantages Disadvantages

Increase production, optimum Water logging

benefit
Elimination of mixed cropping Pecticide application
General prosperity Water born diseases
Hydropower generation Complex and expensive system
Fishery
Domestic water supply
Facility and communication
Standards of irrigation water

1) Salinity:
Two reasons:
- Due to supply of saline water:
- Upward movement of saline water
*What will happen if the salt concentration is very high?
Total cencentration of soluble salt:

Q = The quantity of water applied

Cu = Consumptive use of water
Peff = Effective rainfall
C = salt concentration in irrigation water
CQ = The total salt applied to the soil with Q amount of
water
• Salt concentration is measured in PPM (parts per million)
• Concentration above 2000PPM is totally harmful
2) Sedimentation:

- The impact is dependent on :

* Type of sediment transported with the irrigation water
* Characteristics of the reecieving land
3) Concentration of sodium ion
• What is the effect of high sodium ion
concentration?

4) Potentially toxic elements

* For the plants
* For the users
Thank You!!!
Quiz (5 min, 5
points)

• It was discussed to develope 20,000ha land using the

near by river. Discuss at least two issues to be
considered before the detail irrigation system design
work is started. Why?