Irrigation Engineering

Classification of irrigation Drip/trickle Water is directly supplied

irrigation to the root zone of plants.
Concentration of salt
Electrical
Classification conductivity
(µMho/cm)
Low saline water, C1 100-250
Medium saline water, C2 250-750
High saline water, C3 750-2250
Water distribution technique
Very high saline water, C4 > 2250
Used over rolling land
where borders, checks, Proportion of sodium ion concentration
basins and furrows are not  Na+ 
Free/wild or
feasible. S. A.R. =  
ordinary
• Water application Ca++ + Mg ++
flooding
efficiency is low and 2
most suitable for close Classification of water on the basis of SAR-
growing crops.
Type of water SAR value
Applied where land is
Border divided into no. of long Low sodium water, S1 0-10
Flooding parallel strips separated by
Medium saline water, S2 10-18
low levees.
Entire field is divided into High sodium water, S3 18-26
Check
number of leveled plots
flooding Very high sodium water, S4 > 26
surrounded by levees.
It is the special types of Classification of saline and Alkaline soil-
Basin check flooding specially E.C. E.S.P. pH
flooding adopted for garden and Soil
(µMho Value
orchard. classification
/cm)
For row crops deep furrow Saline soil or > 4000 <15  8.5
Furrow is widely used. white alkali
irrigation • In furrow irrigation less Alkaline soil < 4000 >15 8.5-10
evaporation occurs. or non saline
Contour Used for mountainous or alkali/sodic
method land with very steep slope. soil/black
It is the artificial rain in alkali
Sprinkler
which optimum quantity of Saline alkali >4000 >15 <8.5
irrigation
water is used. soil

1
Soil Water = Cu − R. + Le
It is available water that held 3. Field Irrigation requirement
Capillary
in soil against the gravity
water N .I .R
force F .I .R. =
a
Hygroscopic It is not available for the
water plant and can't be easily 4. Gross Irrigation requirement
removed from soil particle F .I .R N .I .R
G.I .R. = =
Gravitational This water is not held by soil. c a  c
water Where,
Important formula
Cu = Total consumptive use
Field capacity
Re = Effective rainfall
It is the maximum amount of moisture held by
a soil against gravity. Le = Leaching requirement
Weight of water stored in soil of unit area Note–
F .C. =
Weight of same soil of unit area
GIR > FIR > NIR > CIR
 w .d w
F .C. = Canal System and Irrigation Efficiency
.d (i) Water Conveyance Efficiency
Where, Wf
dw = Depth of water stored in root zone c =  100
Wr
d = Dry unit weight of soil
Where,
Available moisture depth to plant Wf = Water delivered to the field.
 w .d
w
 F .C. − PW
. .P. Wr = Water delivered from the reservoir
(ii) Water Application Efficiency
Available moisture for plant = F.C. −  (Maximum for sub surface irrigation)
Ws
 = Permanent wilting point (P.W.P) a = 100
Wf
Readily available moisture depth to plant
 d .d Where W, Water stored in the root zone
d w' =
w
 F.C. − PW
. .P
(iii) Water Use Efficiency
Wu
 .d u =
d w' = d  F .C. − m  Wf
w
Where, W Water use consumptively
dw' = S.d (F.C. − m (iv) Water Storage Efficiency
m = Readily available moisture content Ws '
s =
Irrigation requirements of crop Wf
1. Consumptive Irrigation requirement Where,
CIR = Cu − Re Ws’ = Actual water stored in the root zone.
2. Net Irrigation requirement W = Water needed to store to bring the
N.I .R. = C.I .R. + Le water content up to field capacity.

2
(v) Water Distribution Efficiency Zaid April - June
 y Note-
d = 1 −   100
 d • Cash crop- Cotton (8 month), Coffee, Tea,
Sugarcane, Spices.
where,
• Perennial crop - (Time taken 1 year)-
y = Avg. of the absolute values of deviation Sugarcane
from the mean
Important terminology
d − d + d2 − d + d3 − d + ..........
= 1 Maximum amount of moisture
n
which can be held by soil against
Field
d = Average depth during irrigation gravity.
capacity
d1 + d2 + d3 + .......... • Soil is not saturated but still a
= very wet condition
n
(vi) Consumptive Use Efficiency Permanent It is the state of soil when plants
wilting fail to extract sufficient water for
Wcu
cu =  100 point their requirements.
Wd
(PWP)
Where,
Wcu = Water used by plant consumptively. Saturation Water required to fill all the pore
Wd = Net amount of water depleted from capacity spaces between soil particles by
root zone replacing all air held in pore
spaces.
Temporary Water content at which the plant
wilting wilts at day time, but recovers
point during night or when water is
added to soil.
Crop The total time period that elapse
period from the instant of its showing to
the instant of its harvesting.
Base Time between the first watering of
period (B) a crop from the time of its sowing
to its last watering before
harvesting.
Frequency of irrigation Note- Base period < crop period
Paleo • It is the watering done prior to
Available or readily available moisture depth dw'
= Irrigation the sowing of a crop.
Consumptive use Cu
• It is done to prepare the land
Water depth required in the field, for sowing and to add enough
Net irrigation requirement NIR moisture to the soil.
=
Water application efficiency a Kore • It is the first watering after the
Duration of Indian crop season- watering plants have grown a few
centimeter high.
Kharif June - September
• • Kore watering required max.
(Mansoon crops)
discharge in limited time.
Rabi October March

3
 Kore depth Depth of water applied during kore Duty
Crops Delta
watering. ha/m3/s
Outlet It is the duty of canal water at the Rice 120 cm 775
factor outlet. Wheat/Rabi 40 cm 1800
Crop Ratio Irrigated area of Rabi season
= Sugarcane 120 cm 730
Irrigated area of Kharif seasons
Tabacco 75 cm -
Duty (D) It represents the irrigating capacity Important Irrigation Canal
of a unit water.
Water shed or Designed along the watershed
Delta () It is total depth of water required
ridge canal line and it can irrigate both side
for a crop during the entire period
of canal under gravity flow.
of the crop's.
• It is economical and
Time factor minimum cross drainage
It is the ratio of number of days the canal has work required.
actually run to the number of days or irrigation
Contour/single Irrigate only one side of canal
period.
bank canal and aligned parallel to the
Time factor = contours of the country.
Actual operating period of distributary Side slope Aligned at right angle of the
Crop period canal contours and runs parallel to
Capacity factor- natural drainage.
It is the ratio of mean supply discharge to the • Cross drainage works are
full supply discharge. completely eliminated

Mean discharge Inundation Directly taken from rivers to

Cv = canals control the water level in river
Design discharge
during flood
G.C.A Culturable area + unculturable area Feeder canal Constructed to feed two or
C.C.A = G.C.A. unculturable area more other canals.

G.C.A Gross commanded area River training works

• Aggrading River- This is because of
Irrigated area = C.C.A × Irrigation Intensity
silting.
Relation b/w Duty and Delta • Degrading River- This is because of
8.64B 864B scouring.
= m or = cm
D D Meandering of River
B = base period in days Meandering of a river is due to erodibility of the
D = Duty in hectares/cumec bed and banks of stream.
Kore depth Meander belt MB
Meandring Ratio = =
Crops Kore Depth Meander length ML

Rice 19 cm Meander Length ML = 65.8 Q dominant

Wheat 13.5 cm
Cut of Ratio 1.7  C.O.R.  3.0
Sugarcane 16 cm
Curved length of cut off
C.O.R/Tortusity =
Straight length of cut off

4
Dominant Discharge 1/3
 q2 
4. Lacey's regime scour depth = 1.35 
1 2 9
or of Qmax =  Qmax  f 
Qdominant =  
2 3 16
(for any river)
1/3
q
Lacey's regime scour depth = 0.48  
f
(for alluvial river)
Note-
According to Lacey's theory, eddies generate
from canal bed and side both or total wetted
River Training
perimeter.
Type of river Training Kennedy's Theory
Example
training for
(i) Critical velocity, v0 = 0.55my0.64
Low Depth Navigation
Where, y = Trial depth
Medium Velocity Silt control
m = Critical velocity ratio
High Discharge Flood control
(ii) Area, A = ( B + ny ) y
Ideal shape of canal
• For lined canal - Trapezoidal Q
Where, A = Q = Discharge (m3/sec.)
• For unlined canal or Alluvial soil - v0
Semicircular
• Best section of canal, when it is in - (iii) Perimeter, P = B + 2 y n2 + 1
Partially cutting and filling
A
Regime channel (iv) Hydraulic mean depth R =
P
A channel is said to be in a stage of regime if
there is neither silting nor scouring in the (v) Actual velocity, v = C R  s
channel. Different between Lacy's and Kennedy's
Design parameter of lacey's theory theory-
1/6
 Qf 2  Kennedy's theory Lacey's theory
1. Velocity, V = 
 140 
V = Velocity in
  Silt is kept in Silt is kept in
(m/sec.) suspension due to suspension due to
eddies from bottom both from bottom
Q = Discharge in cumec (m³/sec)
and side.
• Lacy's regime velocity equation,
Design is tedious and Simple and based on
V = 10.8R2/3s1/3 based on trial and direct procedure.
• Silt factor, f = 1.76 dmm error procedure.
Not given any Given for bed slope.
5 V 2  equation for bed
2. Hydraulic mean depth, R =  
2  f 
slope.
Applicable for Both for channel
3. Wetted perimeter, P = 4.75 Q irrigation channel and rivers
only.

5
Considered channel Semi-elliptical Recommended the Gave is own flow
section is trapezoidal. section use of kutter's equation.
There can be many Only one regime equation.
section for the given section for given Canal Head Work Terminology
discharge. discharge and silt
Canal head Provided at the head of the
factor.
regulator off taking canal (99-110°).
Used critical velocity Established silt
Divide wall Constructed at right angle
ratio (m) to account factor that is
to the axis of weir/barrage
for silt that is depends depends upon avg.
for creating still pond.
upon silt charge and size of particle.
perimeter. Under sluiced/ Provided on the same side
scouring sluice as the off taking canal.
Recommended the Gave is own flow
use of kutter's equation. Fish Ladder Fish ladders are the Baffle
equation. walls that provides smooth
flow of water by
dissipating flow energy
due to which fishes moves
freely and safely in the
river.

Kennedy's theory Lacey's theory Silt excluders It is used for silt

& Silt ejector prevention work.
Silt is kept in Silt is kept in
suspension due to suspension due to Note -
eddies from bottom both from bottom • Most suitable location of canal head works
and side. is trough stage of the river.
Design is tedious and Simple and based on • It is constructed normal to the river flow.
based on trial and direct procedure. River training work includes-
error procedure. • Flood protection
Not given any Given for bed slope. • Guiding the flow
equation for bed • Efficient navigation
slope. • Sediment control
Applicable for Both for channel Safety against piping or undermining-
irrigation channel and rivers Safe creep length, L = C.H L
only.
C = Bligh's coefficient of creep
Considered channel Semi-elliptical
section is trapezoidal. section H 1
To prevent piping failure, 
L C
There can be many Only one regime
section for the given section for given Safety against uplift pressure-
discharge. discharge and silt h
factor. Floor thickness, t 
G −1
Used critical velocity Established silt Where, h = Ordinate of the H.G.L. above the top
ratio (m) to account factor that is of floor.
for silt that is depends depends upon avg.
 h 
upon silt charge and size of particle. t = 1.33 
perimeter.  G −1 

6
As per Lane's theory- drainage
To prevent piping failure- trough
H 1 • Canal flows
 Where, C1 = Lane's creep coefficient under
Ll C1
syphonic
To precent up life failure- action under
h the trough
t t = Floor thickness
G –1 Level Generally provided when a large
Cross drainage work and its Suitability crossing canal and huge drainage (such as
a stream or river) approach each
Cross other practically at the same level
drainage Suitable for Remark
work Types of aquifer-

Aqueduct • HFL of drain FSL > CBL It is one that is confined on

Confined/
is > HFL its upper and lower surfaces
artesian
sufficiently by impervious rocks
aquifers
below the formation or aquiclude.
bottom of the It is the topmost water
FSL-Full Unconfined
canal bearing strata with no
supply level or non-
• Drainage confined impermeable
CBL-Canal artesian
water flows overburden (aquiclude)
bed level aquifers
laying over it.
Perched It is in the shape of inverted
Syphon • HFL of drain FSL > HFL aquifer lens or cup.
aqueduct is higher than > CBL
canal bed Aquitard
It is a layer through which
Ex.- Silty
• Water passes HFL-High only seepage is possible.
clay
through flood level
aqueduct An aquiclude is a solid
barrels under Aquiclude impermeable layer under
syphonic Ex.- Clay laying or overlaying an
action aquifer
Super • FSL of canal HFL > DBL Aquifuge There is neither porous nor
passage is > FSL Ex.- permeable formation and no
sufficiently Compact inter connected openings
below the rock hence it can't transmit water.
bottom of the Wells yield per unit draw
DBL- Specific
drain trough down is known as specific
Drainage capacity
• Canal water Bed level capacity.
flows freely If the aquifer is
under gravity homogeneous and isotropic
Cone of
Canal • FSL of canal HFL>FSL> and water table is assumes a
depression
Syphon is DBL conical shape, called cone of
or sufficiently depression.
syphon above the
bed level of