WACHEMO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND

TECHNOLOGY

Program: Civil Engineering- Regular Program

Course : Irrigation Engineering

Academic Year: 2022

2024

Abera M. (MSc Irr. Engg.)

 Course Contents
Course objectives:
(i)To introduce basic concepts of soil-water-plant interactions, as well as
irrigation systems design, planning and management.
(ii) To develop analytical skills in the design of irrigation projects

Chapter 1.0 Introduction

1.1 Irrigation – Definition, Need and Objectives
1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation
1.3 Irrigation development status in Ethiopia
1.4. Procedures for Feasibility Studies of Irrigation Projects
Chapter 2.0 Basics in Irrigation Engineering
2.1 Planning Irrigation systems
2.2 Soil-Plant-Water relation - Overview
2.3 Crop water requirement
2.4. Reference Evapotranspiration
2.5. Base, delta and duty for fixing canal capacity
2. 6. Measurement of irrigation water
 Course Contents
Chapter 3.0 water application techniques
3.1. Land Grading, Survey and Design
3.2. Types of Irrigation System
3.3. Surface Irrigation System
3.4. Pressurized Irrigation System
Chapter 4.0.Water conveyance and control
4.1. Irrigation distribution Network
4.2 Types of conveyance structures
4.3 Canal Irrigation System.
4.4 Planning and layout of irrigation distribution networks
4.5 Design of unlined and lined canals
4.6 Economics of canal lining
4.7 Irrigation water control structures
Chapter 5.0, Surface Drainage and Sub-Surface Drainage
5.1. Salt Problems in Irrigation Agriculture
5.2. Saline and Alkaline Soils, Quality of Irrigation Water
5.3. Water Logging and Land Reclamation Process
5.4. Surface and Sub Surface Drainage Design and Construction
 REFERENCES
1. Basak, N.N. 2008. Irrigation Engineering. Tata Mc Graw Hill Ltd. New Delhi.

2. Garg, S.K. 2005. Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures. 19th ed.,
New Delhi

3. Keller, J. and R. D. Bliesner. 1990. Sprinkler and Trickle Irrigation. Van

Nostrand Reinhold Pub., New York.

4. Lal, R. 1978. Surface Irrigation Hydraulics. H.C. Agrawal M.com pub.

Allahabad, India.

5. Michael, A.M. 1978. Irrigation Principles and Practices. Vikas pub. Ltd. New
Delhi.

6. Walker, W.R. and G.V. Skogerobe. 1987. Surface Irrigation - Irrigation Theory
and Practice. Prentice Hall Inc. New Jersey.
 Course Goals
This course has two specific goals:
(i) To introduce students to basic concepts of
soil, water, plants, their interactions, as well as
irrigation systems design, planning and
management.
(ii) To develop analytical and practical skills
relevant to the areas mentioned above,
particularly in the design of irrigation projects

5 Irrigation Engineering
 Course Objectives
Up on Completion of this course, students should be able
to:
(i) Understand the basic soil-plant-water parameters
related to irrigation
(ii) Understand how to estimate the quantity of water
required by crops using manual and computer methods.
(iii) Be able to plan and design irrigation projects.
(iv) Design irrigation head works and flow control
structures.

6 Irrigation Engineering
Course Objectives

(v) Design channels and other irrigation structures

required for irrigation
(vi) Design pumped irrigation systems
(vii) Identify the water resource potential of an area
discuss the best way of utilization
(Viii) Understand how to carryout feasibility study of
irrigation schemes

7 Irrigation Engineering
 Course Description/Course Contents

 General about irrigation Engineering and its scope,

limitation and objective.
 Soil-Plant-Water relationship: soil-water potential, moisture
stress of plants, soil moisture and plant growth, crop-water
requirement.
 Water application techniques: border, furrow, sprinkler, drip
and check-basin irrigation methods, irrigation efficiency.
 Water conveyance and control: irrigation distribution
systems, methods of water measurement and related
hydraulic structures.
 Irrigation head works, cross-drainage structures, canal drops
and
8 transitions, Irrigation Engineering
 Course Description/Course Contents
Design of irrigation systems and structures.
Irrigation planning, scheduling and efficiencies
Operation of irrigation systems: irrigation frequency
Design of pumped irrigation system
Salt problems in irrigated agriculture: saline and alkaline
soils, quality of irrigation water, water logging and land
reclamation process.
Feasibility studies of irrigation projects.

9 Irrigation Engineering
 General Introduction

10
Irrigation Engineering
 An Historical Perspective
 Irrigation is an old art as old as civilization

 Nile River Basin (Egypt) - 6000 B.C.

 Tigris-Euphrates River Basin (Iraq, Iran, Syria) - 6000
B.C.
 Yellow River Basin (China) - 3000 B.C.
 Indus River Basin (India) - 2500 B.C.
 Maya and Inca civilizations (Mexico, South America) -
500 B.C.
 Western U. S. - 1800’s

Irrigation
11 Engineering Irrigation
 Agriculture and Irrigation Development in
Ethiopia
 The Ethiopian economy is dominated by smallholder
subsistence agriculture
 It accounts for 46 per cent of GDP and 85 per cent of
employment.
 It is entirely sector depends on rainfall

Irrigation
12 Engineering
 Chapter one
1.1. Irrigation – Definition, Need & objectives
Definition:
 Irrigation is any process, other than natural
precipitation, which supplies water to crops for their
successful growth.
 Irrigation is the controlled application of water to
croplands.
 Irrigation is the application of water to the soil to
supplement natural precipitation and provide an
environment that is optimum for crop production.
 science of artificial application of
water to the land,
 in accordance with the crop
requirements throughout the crop
period
● Irrigation Engineering is an engineering which is
concerned with the design, layout and construction of
irrigation structures and systems.
● mainly concerned with the design, lay out and construction
of head works, canals, canal structures, cross drainage
works and canal falls
 1.2 Phases of Irrigation

 Irrigation can be divided in two main phases,

namely:
(a) Engineering phase
(b) Agricultural phase
 Engineering phase: includes
training and tapping of sources of water,
storing of water,
conveying that water efficiently to the fields

Irrigation
15 Engineering Irrigation
 1.2 Phases of Irrigation

 In Engineering phase the following are

performed
(a) Assessment of the availability of suitable source
of water
(b) Deciding mode of utilization
(c) Modifying flow conditions
(d) Conveying that water efficiently to the fields
(e) Application of water to the fields

Irrigation
16 Engineering Irrigation
 1.2 Phases of Irrigation

 In Agricultural phase the following are

performed
(a)evolving suitable cropping pattern,
(b)study of soil moisture availability,
(c)determination of crop water
requirement,

Irrigation
17 Engineering Irrigation
 1.2 Phases of Irrigation

d) deciding depths of water with respect

to time over the crop period,
e) arranging equitable distribution of
water,
f) examination of quality of water
g) application of other inputs like high
yielding varieties of seeds, chemical
fertilizers and pesticides etc.
Irrigation
18 Engineering Irrigation
1.3. Need:
Irrigation is needed for a continuous and reliable
water supply to the different crops in accordance
with their different needs.
Inadequate rain fall
Uneven distribution of rainfall
Increasing the yield of crops
Growing a number of crops
Growing perennial crops
Growing superior crops
Insurance against drought
Controlled water supply
1.4. Irrigation – objectives

 To create an optimal soil moisture regime for

maximizing crop production and quality (primary
objective)
 To design, analyze, and construct different irrigation
structures.
 To cool the plant or protect from frost

 To leach or dilute excess salts present in the soil

 To facilitate continuous cropping

 To enhance fertilizer uptake

1.5. Irrigation – Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:
Irrigation helps to stabilize the farm economy
Irrigation can improve the quality of crops
Through irrigation the time of harvest can be more closely
controlled
With irrigation, fertilizers placed in the soil are available at
once to plants
Eliminates mixed cropping
Irrigation protects certain high value crops from frost
damage/high temperature.
Irrigation increases the survival of transplanted crops
Conjunctive use of irrigation projects – hydroelectric
power, domestic water supply
Irrigation – Advantages and Disadvantages
Disadvantages:
 If not properly managed, irrigation may result in the
We of
outbreak need
waterirrigation!
borne diseases
 Water logging problem due to over irrigation and thus
One-third
reduction in cropofyields.
the world population is supported
 Groundwith onlypollution
water 17% of through
the world cultivated
leaching land
of fertilizers
irrigated.
 Irrigation is relatively expensive and the management is
difficult.
But, of
 Dumping if weather
we are to deal with the future, we need
efficient
 Raising and well-managed irrigation system!
water table
 May cause increase in salinity of soil
 1.6 Requirements for Successful Irrigation

Land capability
Adequate Water Supply
Adequate Labor
Climate
Adequate Capital
Favorable policy

Irrigation
23 Engineering Irrigation
 1.7 Scope of Irrigation
 Irrigation engineering is not confined only 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 embraces almost all the aspects of water
resources and civil engineering and the
multipurpose river valley projects

Irrigation
24 Engineering Irrigation
 1.7 Scope of Irrigation Engineering

 It embraces the following fields

 Hydrology, hydraulics, Open channel
 River engineering,
 The design and construction of dams, weirs, canals and
various other hydraulic and irrigation structures,
 Drainage, soil reclamation, irrigation practices and water-
soil-crop relationships.
 Soil mechanics, RC, Foundation Eng
 Flood control, hydropower, inland navigation
 Economics, Management, Sociology
 Road construction

Irrigation
25 Engineering Irrigation
 1.7 Scope of Irrigation

 The various aspects of irrigation engineering

can be divided into the following sub-heads.
A. Water Resources and Hydrology aspect
B. Engineering aspect
C. Agricultural aspect
D. Management aspect

Irrigation
26 Engineering Irrigation
 A. Water Resources and Hydrology Aspect

 The basic knowledge of water resources and civil engineering and

hydrology is essential for an engineer.
 While designing and planning various irrigation structures the
engineer requires the following information:
 The quantity of water that will be available at a reservoir site for storage
 The max & min discharge at a river site
 The reservoir capacity that would be required to assure adequate water
 The effects which are likely to occur on the discharge, water levels and
characteristics of the river after the construction of various irrigation
structures.
 The quantity of ground water which can be economically exploited for
various uses,

Irrigation
27 Engineering Irrigation
 B. Engineering Aspect

 The engineering aspect of irrigation engineering involves

 development of a source of water for irrigation
 construction of various irrigation structures for the
storage, diversion, conveyance and application of water.
 It is a vast field and can be subdivided into the following:
(i) Dams and water power engineering
(ii) Diversion and Distribution structures.
(iii) Minor irrigation schemes.

Irrigation
28 Engineering Irrigation
 C. Agricultural Aspect

 The agricultural aspect involves the

following
(i) Irrigation Practice
(ii) Study of agricultural characteristics
(iii) Command Area Development (CAD)

Irrigation
29 Engineering Irrigation
 D. Management Aspect

 It deals with the successful implementation and efficient

management of engineering and agricultural works
 Some points to be considered in the efficient management of
the project are as follows
 There should be most economic use of available water
 The cultivation should be carried out in the most scientific manner
 The distribution of water among various cultivators should be
managed properly.
 Reliable and efficient service should be provided to the cultivators
 Proper arrangement for the measurement of water
 In order to increase the efficiency of irrigation, the small land
holdings of the small farmers should be consolidated to form large
holdings.

Irrigation
30 Engineering Irrigation
1.8. Irrigation Application Methods

 Surface Irrigation
 Furrow, Border, Basin

 Pressurized Irrigation
 Sprinkler Irrigation (Center Pivot, Linear move, Solid Set, etc.)

 Trickle Irrigation (Micro, Drip, etc. )

1.9.Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Agricultural sector in the country contributes about 40 percent of the GDP and
employs 80 percent of the labor force
 virtually all food crops come from rain fed agriculture
 Generally, 75% of the rain fall is concentrated in a period of 3 to 4 months
 Drought and famine are common phenomena in Ethiopia.
 Since the 1950’s, there have been 13events of major drought.
 The probability of a drought shock in Ethiopia is as high as 3 out of 10 years.
 These drought and famine are due to failure of rainfall in amount and mainly
due to variation in time.

 Nowadays, highly variable rainfall in spatial and temporal scales make farming
a risky business.
1.9.Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Government policy (Water resources Development policy – 2002-2016)
 Transformation and intensification of agricultural sector
 Optimal development of water resources of the country

 Water resource of the country:

 Surface water is about 122 billion m3
 Ground water potential is about 2.6 billion m3

 One of the fundamental water resource development options so as to transform

the agricultural sector is irrigation development.

 Why? Because
 Irrigation development provides the best insurance against weather-
induced fluctuation in total agricultural production.
 It is the only way in which we can make our agriculture sustainable,
competitive and profitable.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Cognizant of this fact irrigation is now a national issue and is given a priority to
meet the following objectives.
 To increase production and supply of food crops both quantitatively and
qualitatively so that the population will be fed adequately.
 To improve the quality of life of rural population through the generation of
higher incomes and reduction of poverty.
 To promote higher standards of nutrition and health, greater equity
progress in education and personal freedom.
 To increase and diversify the production of raw materials for industry and
to promote linkage with the industrial sector
 To increase and diversify production for export and maximize the country’s
foreign exchange earnings from agriculture
 To make agriculture the driving force for economic development
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Modern irrigation started at the beginnings of 1960’s at the middle awash
valley.

 Potential irrigable land of the country = gross 3.7 Mha (FAO,1995)

 Actually irrigated = 0.19 Mha (FAO, 1995)

 Irrigation projects in Ethiopia
small scale (<200ha) = 81138ha
medium scale (200ha < A < 3000ha) =44837ha
large scale (>3000ha) = 63581ha

 Total area under traditional and modern irrigation (Source: MoWR,2004/5)

 The total area irrigated till 1991 = 176015 ha,
 Total Area irrigated in 1998 = 197,250 ha
 Total area irrigated at present = 250,613ha due to rapid increment of the
area under traditional irrigation.
But figures on water resources and irrigation lack consistency!
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Lands potentially suitable for Irrigation in Ethiopia:
No River Basin Area ('000ha)
1 Abbay 5800
2 Awash 406
3 Baro-Akobo 1100
4 Genale-Dawa 660
5 Mereb 38
6 Omo-Ghibe 348
7 Rift Valley 80
8 Tekeze 1383
9 Wabi-Shebele 335
Total 10150

 Based upon the various river basin master plans and land and water resources
surveys, the aggregate irrigation potentials of Ethiopia have been estimated to
be 2,523,000 million hectares, net. The gross irrigation potential would be
about 3.7 million hectares.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
Active IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
1. Kesem & Tendaho Irrigation Projects
The projects are found in the Awash Basin.
A total of 90,000ha Irrigation area with all its infrastructure
Dams design completed and construction started.
It is assumed that all of is construction works will be completed soon.

2. Ethiopian Nile Irrigation & Drainage Projects

These projects are found in the Abbay & Tekeze Basins.
 Arjo- Dedesa Irrigation Projects.
This project area is located in the Abbay Basin .
It has a total area of 14,300 ha.
Previously it was studied to a reconnaissance level.
It is now been studied at feasibility and design level.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
Active IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
 Humara Irrigation Project
This project area is located in the Tekeze Basin .
It has a total area of 43,000 ha.
It is studied at feasibility and design level.

 Gumara Irrigation Project

This project area is situated around Lake Tana in the Nile Basin .
It has a total area of 14,000 ha.
Previously the area was studied to a reconnaissance level.
The project is being studied at a design level.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
Active IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
3. Lake Tana sub basin irrigation project
 Ethiopian Government financed projects
The projection areas are located in Abbay Basin. It includes:
 North East Lake Tana, North West Lake Tana , South West Lake Tana,
Jemma, and Gilgel Abbay Irrigation Projects.
 They are feasibility study and detailed design projects.

 They constitutes a total area of 62,457 ha

 World Bank financed projects

It includes Rib, Megech and Anger Irrigation Projects
Feasibility and Detailed Design Project
Covers a total of 20,000 ha.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
4. Koga Irrigation Project
 This project is located in Abbay Basin.
 Its construction partially completed
 It covers a total area of 7,000ha.
5. Lake Abbaya Sub-basin Irrigation Project
 It includes Gelana, Gidabo and Billate Irrigation Projects.
 They are located in the Rift Valley Lakes Basin.
 The total area of these projects is 31,920 ha.
 The projects studied at design level
6. Ziway Irrigation Project
 The project area is located in the Rift Valley Lakes Basin.
 It is feasibility study and detailed design project
 The project area covers 15,500 ha.
 Originally intended for pressurized irrigation; later changed to surface
irrigation
 Final detail design completed and construction started.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS
7. Wabi Shabele Basin Irrigation Projects
 This includes Gololcha, Errer, Iliyon and Buldaho Irrigation Projects
 They make up a total area of 52,920 ha.
 Planned for feasibility level study.

8. Raya Valley Pressurized Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Danakil dry basin
 Source of water is ground water
 Total area being studied is 18 000 ha
 Feasibility study completed
 Detail design for First phase of the project completed.
 Detail design for the second phase of the project which consists of
development of 100 production wells just started.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:

9. Kobo-Girana Valley Pressurized Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Danakil dry basin
 Source of water is ground water
 Total area studied is 17,000 ha
 The project completed and implementation started

10. Wolkyte Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Tekeze Basin
 Total area being studied is about 40,000 ha
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
Problems in Irrigation Development in the country
Irrigation plays a significant role in the agricultural development of the country
But there are still enormous constraints in its development.
 Lack of mapping data:
 Mapping information not available at a scale suitable for detailed
studies of irrigation areas, dam sites, etc.
 Similarly, data related to soils are not found in sufficient detail to all
potential areas.
 Lack of Hydrologic Data:
 The collection of hydro-meteorological information are not adequate.

 River gauges are mostly available for major rivers and bigger
tributaries.
 Lack of resources:
 The level of skilled manpower available in the country is not adequate
to carry out the number of projects being demanded by the regions.
 Inadequacy in construction capability due to inadequate machinery,
equipment and spare parts.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Lack of Finance:
 Despite ambitious plan of the government, sources of finance for
implementing the planned irrigation projects is expected from foreign
aid and loans.

 Inadequate research undertakings in the area:

 So far, little emphasis for irrigation in agricultural research.

 Operation and Maintenance:

 Institutional water operation and management is in a very poor
condition with regard to the administration of supply, maintenance
and repair of the networks due to lack of trained manpower, sufficient
maintenance tools and equipment.
Assignment 1 for next class pair of 3 only.
1. Classify and give detail explanation on different types of Irrigation systems based on
a) The level of the available water application
b) The Duration of Irrigation
c) The Size of Command Area

2. Discuss Federal Governmental Large Scale & Middle Scale currently active,
ongoing and planned irrigation projects.
(Location ,Command area, needs….etc)
THANK YOU
END CHAPTER
ONE