Elid.

4201 Management of Canal Irrigation

System - 3 (2+1)

ER. NAMITHA M R
ASST. PROF. (C)
DEPT. OF IDE
KCAET, TAVANUR
MODULE 1

 Irrigation – Purpose, benefits and ill effects

 Typical network of canal irrigation system and its different
physical components
 Canal classification based on source of water, Financial
output, Purpose, Discharge and Alignment
 Canal alignment: general considerations for alignment;
 Performance indicators for canal irrigation system evaluation.
 IRRIGATION

Irrigation: Artificial application of water to land for the purpose of raising

the crops

If the water requirement of the crop is met by natural rainfall during the
period of growth, there is no need of irrigation.

If rainfall is non uniform and seasonal, then irrigation is essential for the
proper growth of plants.

Irrigation Engineering: Science which deals with the application of water

to land and with the planning and design of various structures required for
an irrigation system.
 Irrigation: Purposes

=> Providing insurance against short duration droughts

=> Reducing the hazard of frost (increase the temperature of the plant)
=> Reducing the temperature during hot spells
=> Washing or diluting salts in the soil
=> Softening tillage pans and clods
=> Delaying bud formation by evaporative cooling
=> Promoting the function of some micro organisms
 Irrigation: Necessity

Inadequate Rainfall: Irrigation is necessary when rainfall is inadequate to

meet the water requirement of the crops. Essential in arid and semi arid
regions.

Uneven distribution of rainfall: Rainfall is abundant during the monsoon

season (June to September) and very little during rest of the year. Excess
rainfall is stored in reservoirs and used for irrigation in period of no rainfall.

Increasing the yield of crops: The yield of high yielding varieties of crops
can be substantially increased by irrigation.
 Irrigation: Necessity

Growing a number of crops: Irrigation is necessary if a number of crops

are grown during the same year in different growing periods.

Growing of perennial crops: As the rainfall is non uniform, irrigation in

invariably needed for meeting the water requirement of perennial crops
like sugarcane.

Growing superior crops: For growing superior crops and cash crops such
as oil seeds, cotton, fruits, vegetables etc. which requires large quantities
of water, irrigation is necessary.

Insurance against drought: Irrigation is necessary to provide insurance of

crops against drought and famine.
 Irrigation: Benefits
A. Direct Benefits

Increase in crop yield: Optimum quantity of water is applied to obtain

maximum yield per hectare.

Protection from famine: Assured supply of water during drought provides

protection from famine.

Cultivation of superior crops: Irrigation helps in growing superior crops

and cash crops such as oil seeds, cotton, fruits, vegetables etc. which
requires large quantities.

Increase in revenue: Revenue collected from farmers who utilizes

irrigation water can be used for development works.
 Irrigation: Benefits
A. Direct Benefits

Elimination of mixed cropping: Farmers cultivate more than one crop

such that if the weather conditions are not suitable for one cro, they may
be suitable for the other one. Irrigation facilitates a protection over the
changing weather and thereby the mixed cropping (having many
disadvantages) can be avoided.

Saving foreign exchange: Irrigation helps in making the country self

sufficient in food production; thus saving foreign exchange required to
import food grains.

Canal plantation: Damp lands near the canals can be afforested, which
reduces erosion and keeps ecological balance.
 Irrigation: Benefits
A. Direct Benefits

Communication facilities: Inspection road provided on the banks of the

canal provides good communication and transportation for the villagers.

Aid in civilization: Due to the introduction of irrigation schemes, even the

violent and uncivilized tribes take to farming and settles peacefully.

Overall development: Irrigation directly or indirectly leads to general

development of the country.
 Irrigation: Benefits
B. Indirect Benefits

Hydroelectric power: Dams are constructed for creating large reservoirs

and the stored water is used to develop hydropower and then diverted to
irrigation canals.

Domestic and industrial water supply: Irrigation canals can be used for
domestic & industrial water supply, swimming, bathing, cattle rearing,
boating and other recreations.

Flood control: The reservoir will be left with some space for the storage of
flood water.
 Irrigation: Benefits
B. Indirect Benefits

Inland Navigation: Dams are constructed for creating large reservoirs

and the stored water is used to develop hydropower and then diverted to
irrigation canals.

Increase in groundwater storage: The seepage of water from the canals

and agricultural fields increases the water table. The increased GW can
be beneficially utilized for various purposes, if it is below rootzone of
crop.
 Irrigation: Ill-effects
Caused by excess irrigation and unscientific use of irrigation water

Water logging: Excess irrigation water percolates into ground and raises
the water table causing water logging of rootzone.

Damp climate: Intense irrigation results in a damp climate which initiates

the outbreak of various diseases.

Mosquitoes nuisance: Due to excess irrigation and resultant seepage, the

depressions and pits get filled with water, which acts as a breeding place
for mosquitoes.
 CANAL IRRIGATION

Canal irrigation is one of the types

of irrigation where in the reservoir
water is carried to the field through
channels having specific shape
and bed channel slope.

The shape is generally trapezoidal

or triangular with side slopes based
on soil types.

Canals usually draw their supplies

from rivers
Fig: Canal Irrigation
Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components/ Parts
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components/ Parts
Parts of canal irrigation system

Parts of canal
irrigation system

1. Conveyance 2. Regulatory
structures structures
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

A canal conveying water from the source

has to run for large distances and has to
maintain the water levels appropriately.

The water which enters the main canal is

distributed into branches and distributaries
and ultimately reaches the agricultural
fields through water courses.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

i. Main canal: The main canal is the largest

canal in the system.
It takes off directly from the canal
headworks (head regulator).
Generally, there are two main canals,
each taking off from either side.
Sometimes there are two or more main
canals on either side.
No direct irrigation is normally done from a
main canal.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

ii. Branch canal: A branch canal takes off

from the main canal or another branch
canal.
The discharge capacity of a branch canal
is usually more than 5 cumecs.
Generally, no direct irrigation is done from
a branch canal.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

iii. Major distributary: A major distributary

takes off from a main canal, a branch
canal or another distributary and supplies
water to minor distributaries and water
courses.
The discharge capacity is usually between
0.25 to 5 cumecs.
These channels are generally used for
direct irrigation.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

iv. Minor distributary: A minor distributary

also takes off from a main canal, a branch
canal or another distributary and supplies
water to water courses.
Its discharge capacity is usually less than
0.25 cumecs.
The minor distributaries are also used for
direct irrigation.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation system: 1. Conveyance structures – Canal Network

v. Water courses (or field channels): Water

courses are small channels which take
water from a branch canal, a major
distributary or a minor distributary and
supply it to the agricultural fields.
The water courses are owned, constructed
and maintained by cultivators, not by
government.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Canal has to cross terrains of different slopes

as well as some obstacles such as natural
water bodies or railway lines, roads, etc.;
cross-drainage works are used in this case.

The cross-drainage work is required to

dispose of the drainage water so that the
canal supply remains uninterrupted

The canal at a cross-drainage work is

generally taken either over or below or at the
same level as the drainage.
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type – 1: Cross drainage work carrying canal

over the drain (HFL < FSL)
Aqueduct: It is a structure in which the canal
flows over the drainage and the flow of the
drainage below is open channel flow.
It is provided when the canal bed level is
higher than the HFL of the drainage.

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type – 1: Cross drainage work carrying

canal over the drain (HFL > Canal bed)
Syphon aqueduct: In a siphon aqueduct
also the canal is taken over the drainage,
but the flow in the drainage is under
pressure.
It is constructed when the HFL of the
drainage is higher than the canal bed
level.

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type – 2: Cross Drainage work carrying

Drainage over the canal (HFL > FSL)
Super passage: It is a structure in which
the canal is taken below the drainage
and flow in the canal is open channel
flow.
It is required when the canal FSL is below
the drainage bed level.

Fig: Super passage

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type – 2: Cross Drainage work carrying

Drainage over the canal (FSL> Drainage Bed)
Canal Syphon: A canal syphon is a structure in
which the canal is taken below the drainage
and flow in the canal is pipe flow (i.e. under
pressure).
It is constructed when the canal FSL is above
the drainage bed level.
Fig: Canal Syphon

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type –3: Cross drainage works admitting canal

water into the canal (HFL = FSL)
Level crossing: A level crossing is provided
when the canal and the drainage are
practically at the same level.
In this case, the drainage water is admitted into
the canal at one bank and is taken out at the
opposite bank.

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts : 1. Conveyance structures - Cross-drainage works

Type –3: Cross drainage works admitting canal

water into the canal (HFL = FSL)
Inlet and outlet: An inlet-outlet structure is
provided when the drainage and the canal are
almost at the same level, and the discharge in the
drainage is small.
The drainage water is admitted into the canal at a
suitable site and the excess water is discharged
out through an outlet provided on the canal at
some distance downstream of the junction.

FSL -Full Supply Level of canal; HFL- High Flood Level of drainage
 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation systems : 2. Regulatory structures

Different types of structures are

constructed on the canal in order
to regulate and control the
discharge, velocity, etc. in the
canal.
These structures are called
Regulatory structures

Fig: Regulatory structures of canal system

 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation systems : 2. Regulatory structures

i) Distributary head regulator: It is

provided at the head of each
distributary and branch canal.
It controls the entry of water into the off
taking channels.

Fig: Regulatory structures

 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation systems : 2. Regulatory structures

ii) Cross Regulator: It is provided on the

parent channel just downstream of the
offtake point of the off taking channel to
raise water level in the parent channel,
so that the full supply can be taken into
the off taking channel even when the
parent channel is running partly full.

Fig: Regulatory structures

 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation systems : 2. Regulatory structures

iii) Canal falls: When the slope of the

natural ground is much steeper than the
slope of the canal, a sudden drop in the
channel bed is provided. This sudden
drop is known as the canal fall.
The location of the fall has to be
decided judiciously such that there
should be a balance between the
quantities of excavation and filling.

Fig: Regulatory structures

 Canal Irrigation: Typical network and its physical
components
Parts of canal irrigation systems : 2. Regulatory structures

iv) Canal escapes: These are the

structures which are designed to
remove the water from the canal when
excess rainfall occurs or when
breaches occur in the canal
downstream.
They are a sort of safety valves in the
canal system to remove the excess
water or to empty the canal at the times
of emergency or for repair works.

Fig: Regulatory structures

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