IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE ENGINEERING

Prepared By:-Tirtha Karki

Year Co-ordinator/ Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Kathmandu Engineering College
Kalimati, Kathmandu
1. Introduction (4hrs)
1.1 Definition, advantages and disadvantages of irrigation

Definition:-

The process of artificial application of water to the soil for the growth of agricultural crop is termed
as irrigation.

It is particularly a science of planning and designing a water supply system for agricultural land to
protect the crops from bad effect of drought or low rainfall.

· It includes the following structures for the regular supply of water to the required command area:
 the construction weir/barrage
 dam/reservoir
 canal system

Advantages and Disadvantages of irrigation

Advantages of irrigation:-

A. Direct Advantages of irrigation

There are a number of advantages of irrigation and can be summarized as follows:
· Increase in crop yield
· Protection from famine / extreme scarcity of food
· Improvement of cash crops
· Elimination of mixed cropping
· Prosperity of farmers
· Source of revenue
· Overall development of the nation

B. Indirect Advantages of Irrigation

· Hydroelectric development
· Flood control
· Domestic and industrial water supply
· Navigation
· Development of fishery
· Ground water recharges

Disadvantages of irrigation
The uses of irrigated agriculture have the following disadvantages (ill effects) if not properly
managed:
· Raising of water Table
· Formation of marshy area
· Dampness of weather
· Loss of soil fertility

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· Soil erosion
· Production of harmful gases
· Loss of valuable lands

1.2 Status and need of irrigation development in Nepal

1.2.1. History of irrigation development in Nepal

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1.2.2 Status of irrigation development in Nepal

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1.2.3 Types of Irrigation system

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1.2.4 Water Resources Laws

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1.2.5 Instructional Framework of Irrigation System

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1.2.6 Need of Irrigation System

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1.3 Crops, their seasons and periods (Cropping pattern & intensity)

1.3.1.Crops Seasons:-

Two major seasons of crops are Kharif Crops & Rabi Crops

(i).Kharif Crops (Wet season crops, Monsoon crops)

The word “Kharif” is Arabic for autumn. As these crops harvest in the autumn time hence the name
called Kharif. The crops that are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. Kharif crops are
usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in June. The Kharif season starts generally from June
to October. As cultivation of these crops happens in the monsoon season, another name for Kharif crop
is monsoon crop. We had sown that crop at the beginning of the monsoon season around June and
harvest by September or October. Rice, maize, soybean, groundnut, cotton are Kharif crops.

(ii).Rabi Crops (Dry season crops, Winter crops, Post-monsoon crops)

The Arabic translation of the word ”Rabi”, is spring. As these crops harvest in the spring time hence the
name called Rabi. The Rabi season usually starts in November and lasts up to March. Cultivation of
Rabi crop is mainly through irrigation since monsoons are already over by November. Farmers sow the
seeds at the beginning of autumn, which results in a spring harvest. Wheat, barley, mustard and green
peas are some of the major rabi crops.

Other Crops

Zaid Crops (Summer Crops or Short season crops)

Agricultural crops which are grown in the short duration between Rabi and Kharif crop season,
mainly from March to June, are called Zaid crops.

In general, Zaid crops are crops that grow in summer season. Also, these grow on irrigated lands. So we
do not have to wait for monsoons to grow them. Some examples of Zaid crops are pumpkin, cucumber
etc.

1.3.2. Crop Period & Base Period

Crop Period:-
The time period that elapses from the instant of its sowing to the instant of its harvesting is called
the crop period.

Base Period:-
The time between the first watering of a crop at the time of its sowing to its last watering
before harvesting is called the base period or the base of the crop.

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1.3.3. Cropping Pattern & Intensity:-

Cropping pattern:-
Cropping pattern refers to the proportion of land under cultivation of different crops at different
points of time. This indicates the time and arrangement of crops in a particular cultivation land.

There are three types of cropping patterns:

 Mixed Cropping
When two or more crops are grown on the same land simultaneously, it is known as mixed cropping.
For eg., growing wheat and gram on the same land at the same time is mixed cropping. This practice
minimizes the risk of failure of one of the crops and insures against crop failure due to abnormal
weather conditions
 Inter-cropping
Intercropping is the practice of growing more than one crop on the same field at the same time in a
definite row pattern. After one row of the main crop, two or three rows of inter-crops can be grown.
This increases productivity per unit area.
 Crop Rotation
In this pattern, different crops are grown on the same land in preplanned succession. The crops are
classified as one-year rotation, two-year rotation, and three-year rotation, depending upon their
duration.
Legumes are included in the crop rotation programme to increase soil fertility. The crops which
require high fertility level (wheat) can be grown after the legumes. The crops which require low
inputs can be grown after the crops that require high inputs.

Factors Affecting Cropping Patterns

 The cropping patterns determine the level of agricultural production. This reflects the
agricultural economy of any region.
 The cropping patterns are affected by changes in agrarian policy, availability of agricultural
inputs and improvement in technology.
Thus, the cropping patterns are beneficial in improving the fertility of the soil, thereby, increasing the
yield of the crops. It ensures crop protection and efficient utilization of availability of nutrients to the
crops.

Cropping Intensity:-

Cropping intensity refers to raising of a number of crops from the same field during one agricultural
year. It is the ratio of total area cropped in a year to the land available for cultivation and expressed
in percentage.

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1.4 Commanded areas and Irrigation intensity

Commanded areas:-

The area over which irrigation water flows by gravity is known as commanded area in irrigation.

Types of command area in irrigation:-

(i). Gross Command Area (GCA):-

Gross Command Area is the total area which can be irrigated from an irrigation scheme without
considering the limitation of water. It includes cultivating land as well as roads, waste land, forests,
barren land etc.

(ii). Culturable Command Area (CCA):-

Culturable Command Area is the area in which crop is grown at a particular time or crop season.

CCA= GCA – Uncultivable Areas

Uncultivable Areas are excluded from GCA to obtain CCA. The uncultivable area includes roads,
forests, barren lands etc.

Culturable Command Area can be of two types. They are:-

(a). Culturable Cultivable Area:-

It is the area within the culturable command area where cultivation is actually done at present.

(b). Culturable Uncultivable Area:-

It is the area within the culturable command area where cultivation is possible but not done at
present.

(iii). Net Command Area (NCA):-

It is the Culturable Command Area obtained after the deduction of canal networks, supply ditches etc
constructed in the field.

NCA = CCA- the area occupied by canal networks, supply ditches etc constructed in the field.

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1.5 Methods of field irrigation and their suitability

The methods of irrigation are classified as shown in the following charts:-

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Method of Distribution of Irrigation Water
After irrigation water is taken from the sources by any of the techniques (Diversion from river or
reservoir or pumped from the ground sources etc), it can be distributed to the agricultural field by
different methods as summarized in the following chart schematically.

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A. Surface Method of Irrigation
In this method, the irrigation method is distributed to the agricultural land through the small
channels, which flood the area up to the required depth. The following figures show the schematic
description of surface irrigation methods.

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B. Sub-Surface Method of Irrigation
In this method of irrigation, the water is applied to the root zone of the crops by underground
network of pipes .The network consists of main pipe, sub main pipes and lateral perforated pipes.
The perforated pipe allows the water to drip out slowly and thus the soil below the root zone of the
crops absorbs water continuously. This method is also known as drip method or trickle method of
Irrigation as can be shown in the following figure.

C. Sprinkler Irrigation Method

In this method, the water is applied to the land in the form of spray like rain. The network of the
main pipes, sub main pipes and laterals achieves the spraying of water. The lateral pipe may be
perforated at the top and side through which the water comes out in the form of spray and spread
over the crop in a particular area. Again, the lateral pipes may contain series of nozzles through
which the water comes out as fountain and spread over the crop in a particular area. The following
figure illustrates an overhead method of Irrigation.

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1.6 Planning of irrigation projects

Agricultural establishments capable of applying controlled amounts of water to lands to produce

crops are termed irrigation projects. These projects mainly consist of engineering (or hydraulic)
structures which collect, convey, and deliver water to areas on which crops are grown. Irrigation
projects may range from a small farm unit to those serving extensive areas of millions of hectares. A
small irrigation project may consist of a low diversion weir or an inexpensive pumping plant along
with small ditches (channels) and some minor control structures. A large irrigation project includes a
large storage reservoir, a huge dam, hundreds of kilometres of canals, branches and distributaries,
control structures, and other works. The following can be listed as conditions essential for the
success of any irrigation project.

(i) Suitability of land (with respect to its soil, topography and drainage features) for continued
agricultural production,

(ii) Favourable climatic conditions for proper growth and yield of the crops,

(iii) Adequate and economic supply of suitable quality of water, and

(iv) Good site conditions for the safe construction and uninterrupted operations of the engineering
works.

During some decades, many large irrigation projects have been built as multipurpose projects. Such
projects serve more than one purpose of irrigation or power generation. Such large projects (single-
purpose or multipurpose) are constructed and administered by governmental agencies only. Most of
the irrigation projects divert stream flow into a canal system which carries water to the cropland by
gravity and, hence, are called gravity projects. In pumping projects, water is obtained by pumping
but delivered through a gravity system.
A gravity type irrigation project mainly includes the following works:

(i) Storage (or intake) and diversion works,

(ii) Conveyance and distribution channels,

(iii) Conveyance, control, and other hydraulic structures,

(iv) Farm distribution, and

(v) Drainage works.

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