2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

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Gulley & Ravine Control Structures 3(2+1)
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Lesson 24 Bunds
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24.1 Introduction
Current course
GRCS Bunding is an engineering soil conservation measure used for retaining water
Participants and creating obstruction to the surface runoff for controlling soil erosion. Bunds
General are simple earthen embankments of varying lengths and heights, constructed
Module 1: across the slope. When they are constructed on the contour of the area, they are
Formation of Gully
and Ravine
called as contour bunds and when a grade is provided to them, they are known
Module 2: as graded bunds. For bunding, the entire area is divided into several small parts;
Hydrological thereby the effective slope length of the area is reduced. The reduction of the
Parameters Related slope length causes not only reduction of the soil erosion but also retention of
to Soil ...
the runoff water in the surrounding area of the bund. Bunds are similar to the
Module 3: Soil
Erosion Processes narrow based terrace, but no agricultural practices are done on bunds except at
and Estimation some places, where some types of stabilization grasses are planted to protect the
Module 4: bund.
Vegetative and
Structural Measures
for E...
Lesson 22 Soil 24.2 Types of Bunds
Erosion Control
Measures
Bunds are of two types: (1) Contour bund and (2) Graded bund
Lesson 22 Quiz
Lesson 23 (1) Contour Bund
Terracing
Lesson 23 Quiz When the bunds are constructed following the same contour, they are called
Lesson 24 contour bunds. Fig 24.1 shows the layout of contour bunds in the field. Contour
Bunds bunds are recommended for areas with low annual rainfall (<600 mm), agricultural
Lesson 24 Quiz field with permeable soil and having a land slope < 6%. The major requirements in
Lesson 25 such areas are prevention of soil erosion and conservation of rain water in the soil
Grassed
Waterways
for crop use.
Lesson 25 Quiz
Lesson 26
Retaining Wall
Lesson 26 Quiz
Lesson 27
Culverts
Lesson 27 Quiz
Lesson 28
Temporary
Control
Structures
Lesson 29
Control by Semi-
permanent Fig. 24.1. Layout of contour bunds in field. (Source: Das, 2002)
Structures
Lesson 29 Quiz Contour bund absorbs the runoff water stored at the upstream side of the bund.
Lesson 30 Proper height of the bund is necessary to avoid overtopping during floods. During
Control by
monsoon, even in a low rainfall region, the entire runoff water cannot be stored
Permanent
Structures and the excess is liable to flow over the bund. To avoid damage, waste or surplus
Lesson 30 Quiz

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds
Lesson 31 weir (Fig. 24.2) is provided on the bunds to dispose off excess water into the next
Permanent
Structures - I
bund. This prevents water-logging.
Lesson 31 Quiz
Lesson 32
Permanent
Structures - II
Lesson 32 Quiz
Keywords
Courses

Fig. 24.2. Clear overfall stone weir. (Source: Das, 2002)

Contour bunding can be adopted on all types of permeable soil except for the
clayey or deep black cotton soils as these soils have the problem of crack
development causing bund failure. Clayey soil also has the problem of water-
logging near the bund section, which makes the bund construction infeasible.
(2) Graded Bund
When a grade is provided along the bund for safe disposal of runoff water over the
area between two consecutive bunds, they are called graded bund. Graded bunds
are adopted in case of high or medium annual rainfall (>600 mm) and relatively
less permeable soil areas. Graded bunds are designed to dispose excess runoff
safely from agricultural field.
24.3 Design of Bunds
24.3.1 Design of Contour Bund
The design parameters required for contour bunds are
(1) Vertical interval
(2) Horizontal interval
(3) Bund cross-section
(4) Earth work due to bunding
Height of the contour bund should be enough to store the expected peak runoff for a 10
years recurrence interval. A free board of about 20% should be provided for the
settlement of height.

(1) Calculation of Vertical Interval (V.I) and Horizontal Interval (H.I)

For low rainfall areas

Where,
VI = Vertical interval, m

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

HI = Horizontal interval, m
s = Original land slope, %
(2) Calculation of Storage Required for Runoff Volume

Where,
P = Precipitation, m
Pe = Excess rainfall depth or surface runoff, m

I = infiltration depth, m
H.I = Horizontal interval, m
L = Length of bund behind which the runoff is stored, m

A = Area of watershed behind two bunds, m2.

RV = Runoff volume to be stored, m3.

(3) Calculation of Storage Volume

Fig. 24.3. Layout of contour bund. (Source: Das, 2002)

From the above layout of contour bund (Fig. 24.3),

Storage volume (SV) = area of water stored behind the bund × length of bund (m3)

where,

d = depth of water stored behind the bund (m)

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

n : 1(H:V) = side slope of the contour bund

4:1 (H:V) = Seepage line slope of the bund
(4) Calculation of Depth of Water Stored Behind Bund
For total runoff absorbed by the bund,

Runoff volume (RV) = Storage volume (Sv)

Using this relationship, the depth of water stored behind bund is calculated.
(5) Calculation of Bund Cross Section

(6) Calculation of Earth Work due to Bunding

24.3.2 Design of Graded Bund

Graded bund is designed based on 1h rainfall intensity for desired recurrence interval.
In general, a grade of 0.2 to 0.3% is provided in graded channel. In graded bund free
board of 15 to 20% of desired depth is provided.
Recommended Dimension
Height of bund ≤ 45 cm
Top width = 30 to 90 cm

Velocity of runoff should be less than critical velocity.

Table 24.1 Recommended side slope for graded bund (Source: Das,2002)

Table 24.2 Recommended seepage line slope for graded bund (Das, 2002)

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

(1) Calculation of Vertical Interval (VI) and Horizontal Interval (HI)

For medium to high rainfall areas:

Where,

V.I = Vertical interval, m

H.I = Horizontal interval, m
s = Original land slope, %
(2) Calculation of Peak Runoff Rate:

Where,

QP = Peak runoff rate (m3/s)

C = Runoff coefficient
I = Rainfall intensity (mm/h) for duration equal to time of concentration.

Where,
tc = Time of concentration (min)

L =Length of water flow = (length of bund + distance between two bunds) in (m)
S = H/L = gradient or slope causing water flow

H = Elevation difference causing water flow

= (elevation difference causing length of bund + elevation difference of land)
= ( L Χ g + HI Χ s ) (m)

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

g = grade of channel (%)

A= Drainage area (ha)
= ( L Χ HI )
(3) Calculation of Discharge Capacity of Graded Bund

Fig. 24.4. Design layout of graded bund. (Source: Das, 2002)

From the design layout of contour bund (Fig. 24.4),

Where,
d = depth of water stored behind the bund (m)

n:1(H:V) = side slope of the graded bund

5:1 (H: V) = Seepage line slope of the bund for sandy loam soil

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2/20/24, 7:10 PM GRCS: Lesson 24 Bunds

(4) Calculation of Bund Dimension

(5) Calculation of Earth Work due to Bunding

24.3.3 Bund Construction

In India, construction of bund is done by manual labour, but bullock-drawn buck
scrapers, tractor plough, tractor pulled grade terraces, bulldozers and motor graders are
also popular.

Last modified: Monday, 23 September 2013, 9:37 AM

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