Irrigation

Enineering
6th Semester
 Course Introduction
• Requires basic knowledge of fluid mechanics and hydraulics
• Internal assessment
50% internal exam
50% internal evaluation (attendance + assignments + class performance)

Course Objectives
• Understanding the Fundamentals of Irrigation Engineering
• Concept of Irrigation system
• Design of basic structures/component in irrigation
• River engineering and river training
• Drainage Engineering

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 Introduction
• The artificial application of water to the land throughout the certain duration
according to the water requirement of a particular crop for its full
development is called irrigation
Why Irrigation?
• Diverse climate and topography
• Uneven distribution of rainfall
• Inadequate rainfall
• Increasing crop productivity

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 Irrigation Development in Nepal
• Before 1962, only farmer managed irrigation systems (FMIS) prevailed
• Minor irrigation program was introduced in second three-year-development
plan (1962-1965)
• After 1970, large scale irrigation systems were initiated in the terai
• Chandra Nahar was the first irrigation canal of Nepal
• Water resource act and Irrigation Policy were promulgated in 1992 with the
vision of irrigation development
• Department of Irrigation was established in 2009
Present status of Irrigation in Nepal
• Total cultivable area: 2.641 million ha End of FY 2071/72
• Irrigable area: 1.766 million ha Surface Irrigation: 779694 ha
• 76% of potential irrigable area lies in the Terai Sub-surface irrigation: 391080 ha
Region Farmers channel: 198140 ha
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 Q. What are the major irrigation projects in Nepal? Mention their
Commanded area (ha) also.
Advantages of irrigation
• Increased food production
• Elimination of mixed cropping.
• Increased revenue
• Elimination of famine
With irrigation facility available, mixed cropping will be eliminated.
(Mixed Cropping means sowing together two or more seeds in same field so
that in case of unfavourable conditions at least one of the crops will grow.)
Optimum Benifits ---> Optimum utilization of water is made possible by
irrigation i.e maximum crop yiedl is obtained with required amount of water.
General Prosperity ---> Revenue reutrns with well developed irrigation
systems are sometimes quite high and help in overall development of country.

• Domestic water supply Generation of Hydropower ---> Cheaper hydropower generation is possible
• Increased accessibility and navigation throught water used in irrigation.

Disadvantages of irrigation
• May cause water pollution due to fertilizers and pesticides
• May result in damp and marshy area causing mosquitoes to breed.
• Over irrigation may cause water logging with reduced crop yield
• Loss of valuable land in case of storage irrigation
• Development of irrigaiton projects is complex and costly
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 Classification/Types of irrigation systems
When water is available at higher level, it can be supplied to lower level by the action of gravity
 Surface Irrigation
In perennial irrigation, constant and continuous water supply is assured fulfilling the crop
• Gravity Flow Irrigation water requirments throughout the crop period.
Perennial Irrigation
Direct Irrigation: River is diverted by creating a barrage, e.g.Sarada
barrage
Storage Irrigation: Monsoon water is stored by constructing a dam
 Flood Irrigation: Soil is kept submerged by flooding to keep it saturated
• Lift irrigation: water is lifted up to a higher location by manual or
mechanical means. Wells and tube-wells may be used.
In this type or irrigation, water does not wet the soil surface but underground water nourishes
the plant roots by capillarity. Genrally used for cash crops of high return.
 Sub-Surface Irrigation
• Natural Sub-surface irrigation: Leakage of water from channels
• Artificial Sub-surface Irrigation: Open-jointed/ perforated drains are
laid below the soil for water supply. Costly and complex

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 Cropping Pattern in Nepal

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 Cropping Intensity
Cropping intensity = (Gross cropped area/Net Sown area)*100 expressed as %

• Gross cropped area: Total use of a given land over a year

• Net Sown area: Available land that can be cropped

e.g.

 Cropping intensity in Nepal in 1991/92: 1.78

 Cropping intensity in Nepal in 2011/12: 1.85

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 Command area of Irrigation system
1. Gross command Area (GCA) : Total area within irrigation boundary which can be irrigated without
considering the limitation of water availability. It includes cultivable and uncultivable area.
Uncultivable area include roads, ponds, residential areas, etc

2. Cultivable Command Area (CCA) : The part of gross commanded area where cultivation is possible.
It includes fallow lands and pastures. It doesn’t include roads, residential areas, reserved
forests, etc.
CCA may be divided into two parts:
-Cultivated portion of CCA
-Cultivable but not cultivated portion of CCA

3. Net Command Area (NCA) : Net commanded area is the cultivable commanded area deducting
the area of canal network, supply ditches, bunds constructed in the field etc.

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 Principal crops and their seasons

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 Common terms in irrigation
 Crop ratio : The ratio of area to be irrigated in Kharif season to that in Rabi season is called crop ratio. This
ratio is generally 1:2.
 Paleo irrigation : The irrigation that is done at the time of sowing crop to moisten the dryland and make it
easier for sowing is called Paleo irrigation.
 Cash Crop : A crop that has to be encashed in the market for processing and cannot be consumed directly is
called cash crop.
 Crop rotation : The method of growing different crops in rotation, one after the other, in the same field is
called crop rotation.
 Intensity of Irrigation : The percentage of CCA that is proposed to be irrigated in given season is called
intensity of irrigation of that season. Annual intensity of irrigation is the sum of the seasonal irrigation
intensities.
 Extensive Irrigation : The irrigation that is done extensively covering large area is called extensive
irrigation.
 Intensive Irrigation : The irrigation that is done in small area supplying abundant water is called intensive
irrigation.
 Time Factor : The ratio of actual opening time of a distributary (e.g. canal) to the crop period is called time
factor.
 Capacity Factor : Ratio of mean discharge in the canal to the design discharge is called capacity factor.
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 Factors to be considered during planning of irrigation project
i. Type of project and general plan of irrigation works.
ii. Location, extent and type of irrigable lands.
iii. Irrigation requirements for profitable crop production.
iv. Available water supplies for the project.
v. Culturable areas which can be economically supplied with water.
vi. Types and locations of necessary engineering works.
vii. Needs for immediate and future drainage.
viii.Feasibility of hydroelectric power development.
ix. Cost of storage, irrigation, power and drainage features.
x. Evaluation of probable power, income and indirect benefits.
xi. Method of financing the project construction.
xii. Desirable type of construction and development.
xiii. Probable annual cost of water to the farmers.
xiv. Cost of land preparations and farm distribution systems.
xv. Feasible crops, costs of crop production and probable crop returns.

Q. Write a short note about existing irrigation system and cropping pattern in your localilty.

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