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Irrigation Engineering
Course code: CEng 5173
Instructor: Elias Y. ([Link], PhD Candidate)
[Link]
1.1. DEFINITION, NECESSITY 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
irrigable land.
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Water is normally supplied to the plants by nature
through the rains. However, the total rainfall in a
particular area may be either insufficient, or ill-
timed.
In order to get the maximum yield it is essential to
supply the optimum quantity of water and to
maintain correct timing of water.
This is possible only through systematic irrigation
system by collecting water during the periods of
excess rainfall and releasing it to the crops as
when it is needed
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1.1.1. Necessity of irrigation:
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.
1.1.2 Scope of Irrigation Engineering
Irrigation Engineering is not only confined to the
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.
Other allied sciences such as flood control,
hydropower, and inland navigation are also studied
in IRRIGATION ENGINEERING.
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Various aspects of Irrigation Engineering is:
1. Water resources and hydrology aspect: This
includes study of meteorology, precipitation, stream flow,
floods, river engineering, reservoirs and flood control.
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.
Cont…
2. Engineering Aspect - involves the development
of a source of water for irrigation and construction of
various irrigation structures.
▫ Dams and water power Diversion and
Distribution structures
▫ Minor irrigation schemes (well, Tank / Pond).
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3. Agricultural aspect – Involves irrigation
practice and the study of agricultural characteristics
of the land.
4. Management Aspect- deals with successful
implementation and efficient management of
engineering aspects and agricultural works.
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1.2. BENEFITS & ILL-EFFECTS OF
IRRIGATION
1.2.1 Benefits of irrigation
Increase in food production: Irrigation helps in
increasing crop yields through controlled and timely
supply of water to the crop
Elimination of mixed cropping: Mixed cropping
can be adopted when irrigation facilities are not
available, but if irrigation is assured it can be
eliminated
Optimm Benefit: optimal utilization of water is
made possible by irrigation. Optimum utilization
implies obtaining maximum crop yield with any
amount of water.
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Cont…
1.2.1 Benefits of irrigation
General prosperity: Revenue returns are
sometimes quite high and helps in all round
development of the country.
Generation of hydroelectric power
Domestic water supply
Facilities of communication: Irrigation
channels are generally provided with
embankments and inspection roads.
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1.2.2 Ill-effects of irrigation
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 and the survival of the surrounding
vegetation
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Cont…
Outbreak of disease: Irrigation may result in
colder and damper climate causing outbreak of
disease like malaria.
Complex and expensive: Some times cheaper
water is to be provided at the cost of the
government and revenue returns are low.
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1.2.3 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
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. It softens tillage pans
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1.3 IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT IN
ETHIOPIA
Ethiopia is the “water tower” of North
Eastern Africa. Many rivers arising in
Ethiopia are also the sources of the
major water resources in neighboring
countries. The country is endowed
with water resources that could easily
be tapped and used for irrigation.
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The MoWR (2002) organizes irrigation schemes in Ethiopia
under four different ways with sizes ranging from 50 to 85,000
ha.
Traditional small scale schemes: (up to 100 ha), built
and operated by farmers in local communities. A total of
1,309 such schemes existed in 1992 covering an estimated
area of 60,000ha.
Modern communal schemes: (up to 200 ha), built by
government agencies with farmer participation. Such
schemes are capable of irrigating about 30,000ha of land.
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.
Public Schemes (over 3,000 ha), owned and operated by
public enterprises as estate farms. Large scale schemes being
operated by public enterprise extend over an area estimated
at 61,000 ha.
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Irrigation potential:
The irrigation potential of the 12 major river basins is given in the
Table below
Rivers Basin area Mean annual Ground water potential gross Net area
(Km)2 Vol.x109m3 potentialx109m3 irrigable Under
area(ha) irrigation(ha)
Awash 112696 4.60 0.14 205400 69900
Abay(Blue Nile) 204000 52.62 1.80 1001550 21010
Baro-Akobo 75912 11.81 0.13 600000 350
Rift valley lakes 52739 56.3 0.10 139300 12270
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