January.

2021
Irrigation Planning, Design and
Construction
by Dr. Abaho Gershom and Dr. Bizimana Hussein

Module Code: SWE 6123 Advances in Irrigation Engineering

Level: 6
Semester: 1

UR-CAVM
Indicative Content
Important References
CORE TEXT
 STEPHEN MARRET (2002), WAT E R FOR A G R I C U LT U R E ,
I R R I G AT I O N E C O N O M I C S I N I N T E R N AT I O N A L P E R S P E C T I V E
 A S AWA G . L ( 2 0 0 5 ) , I R R I G AT I O N A N D WAT E R R E S O U R C E S
ENGINEERING
 G E N E - T E C H B O O K S ( 2 0 1 0 ) , I R R I G AT I O N E N G I N E E R I N G .
 P E T E R WA L L E R ; M U L U N E H Y I TAY E W. ( 2 0 1 6 ) . I R R I G AT I O N A N D
DRAINAGE, SPRNGER, LONDON, UK.

 D AV I D B U T L E R A N D J O H N W. D AV I E S ( 2 0 1 0 ) , U R B A N D R A I N A G E ,
3RD EDITION,
 C O M M I T T E E O N H I M A L AYA N G L A C I E R S , H Y D R O L O G Y, C L I M AT E
C H A N G E , A N D I M P L I C AT I O N S F O R WAT E R S E C U R I T Y ( 2 0 0 7 ) ,
C L I M AT E C H A N G E , WAT E R R E S O U R C E S , A N D WAT E R S E C U R I T Y
Cont...
Background Texts
John Fenton (2007), A first course in Hydraulics
Colin Caprani (2007), Fluid Mechanics in Civil and Structural Engineering
Cont...
Journals
International Journal for Ecology and Development
Hydrological Sciences Journal
Nile Basin Water Science and Engineering Journal
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (ASCE)
Publications
Da Silva, E. D. (2005). U.S. Patent No. 6,918,404. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office.
Malano, H. M., & Burton, M. (2001). Guidelines for benchmarking performance in the irrigation
and drainage sector (No. 5). Food & Agriculture Org..
Li, X., Zhang, C., & Huo, Z. (2020). Optimizing irrigation and drainage by considering agricultural
hydrological process in arid farmland with shallow groundwater. Journal of Hydrology, 124785.
Bizimana, H., Yaqub, M., Sönmez, O., Eren, B., & Demir, F. (2016). Irrigation optimization by
the use of fuzzy logic technology. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 25(1), 325-336.
Definiton of Irrigation
IRRIGATION ENGINEERING IS THE ANALYSIS AND
DESIGN OF SYSTEMS THAT OPTIMALLY SUPPLY THE
RIGHT AMOUNT OF WATER TO THE SOIL AT THE
RIGHT TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PLANT
SYSTEM.
Why to irrigate (Necessity and scope)?
The necessity may be to grow plants for food, landscape irrigation, or other
purposes.

N.B: Subsurface drainage engineering is the analysis and design of systems that
remove water or salts from the soil in order to maintain as close to an optimal
plant growth environment as possible.
Why to irrigate (Purpose and benefit)?
Purpose
maintain as possible the optimal water requirement for a plant growth.

Benefits
Increase in crop yield
Protection of famine
Improvement of cash crops
Elimination of mixed cropping
prosperity of farmers
Source of revenue
Overall development of the nation
Indirect Benefits of Irrigation

Hydroelectric development
Flood control
Domestic and industrial water supply
Navigation
Development of fishery
Ground water recharges
Ill-effects of Irrigation
The uses of irrigated agriculture have the

Raising of water Table

Formation of marshy area
dampness of weather
loss of soil fertility
soil erosion
production of harmful gases
loss of valuable lands
PLANNING OF IRRIGATION PROJECTS
Irrigation 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 f
kilometers of canals, branches and distributaries ,control structures ,and other works.
PLANNING (Cont…)
Suitability of land (with respect to its soil, topography and drainage features) for
continued agricultural production,

(i)     Favorable climatic conditions for proper growth and yield of the crops,

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

(iii) Good site conditions for the safe construction and uninterrupted operations of the
engineering works.
A gravity type irrigation project mainly includes the following works:
 
·     Storage (or intake) and diversion works,
·     Conveyance and distribution channels,
·     Conveyance, control, and other hydraulic structures,
·     Farm distribution, and
·     Drainage works.
Development of Irrigation Project

oA small irrigation project can be developed in a relatively short time.

oFarmers having land suitable for agriculture and a source of adequate water supply
can plane their own irrigation system, secure necessary finance from banks or other
agencies, and get the engineering works constructed without any delay.
oOn the other hand, development of a large irrigation project is more complicated
and time consuming.
oComplexity and the time required for completion of a large project increase with the
size of the project.
Cont...

This is due to the organizational, legal, financial administrative, environmental, and engineering
problems all of which must be given detailed consideration prior to the construction of the
irrigation works. The principal stage of a large irrigation project are:
(i) the promotional stage, (ii) the planning stage, (iii) the construction stage, and (iv) the
settlement stage. 
The planning stage itself consists of three substages:
(ii) preliminary planning including feasibility studies,
(iii) (ii) detailed planning of water and land use, and
(iv) (iii) the design of irrigation structures and canals.
Engineering activities are needed during all stages (including operation and
maintenance) of development of an irrigation project.
However, the planning and construction stages require most intensive
engineering activities.
A large irrigation project may take many years for completion depending upon
the size of the project.
 Feasibility of an irrigation project:
A proposed irrigation project is considered feasible only when the total estimated
benefits of the project exceed its total estimated cost, and project is feasible only if
his annual returns (after completion of the project) exceed him annual costs by
sufficient amount.
The feasibility of an irrigation project is determined on the basis of preliminary
estimates of area of land suitable for irrigation, water requirements, available
water supplies, productivity of irrigated land, and required engineering works.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…)
Once the project is considered feasible, the process of planning starts.
Sufficient planning of all aspects (organizational, technical, agricultural,
legal, environmental, and financial) is essential in all irrigation projects.
The process of planning of an irrigation project can be divided into the
following two stages:
oPreliminary planning, and
oDetailed planning.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):
Preliminary plans, based on available information, are generally
approximate but set the course for detailed planning.
Based on preliminary planning, the detailed measurements are taken and
the detailed plans are prepared. Obviously, detailed plans are more accurate.
Alterations in the detailed plans may be necessary at all stages of the
project. The preparation of plans of an irrigation project in an undeveloped
region is a complicated task and needs the expertise of specialists in areas
of engineering, agriculture, soil science, and geology.
The following are the main factors which must be determined accurately
during the planning stage of an irrigation project.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):

Type of project and general plan of irrigation works.

Location, extent and type of irrigable lands,
Irrigation requirements for profitable crop production
Available water supplies for the project,
Irrigable (cultivable) areas which can be economically supplied with water,
Types and locations of necessary engineering works,
Needs for immediate and future drainage.
Feasibility of hydroelectric power development,
Cost of storage, irrigation, power and drainage features,
Evaluation of probable power, income and indirect benefits.
Method of financing the project construction.
Desirable type of construction and development.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):
Desirable type of construction and development.
  Probable annual cost of water to the farmers.
  Cost of land preparations and farm distribution systems, and
   Feasible crops, costs of crop production, and probable crop returns.

Most of these elements of project planning are interrelated to some extent.

Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):

The preliminary planning of an irrigation project consists:

collecting and analyzing all available data fro the current study,
securing additional data needed for preparing preliminary plans for major project features
by limited field surveys,
and determining the feasibility of the proposed development by making the preliminary
study of major features in sufficient detail.
While investigations for the preliminary planning of irrigation projects should be conducted
with minimum expenditure, the results of the preliminary study must be sufficiently
accurate.
For preliminary investigations, hydrological studies can be based on the records of
stations in the vicinity of the proposed project site.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):
For detailed planning, accurate data on all aspects of the proposed irrigation project are
required to work out the detailed plans and designs of various engineering works and to
determine their economic site locations.
Physical data needed for detailed planning are collected by topographic and location
surveys, land and soil investigations and geological explorations (surfaces as well as
subsurface) at the sites of major engineering works.
Results of such surveys are suitably tabulated or plotted for convenient use in design
offices and for planning further field work, if necessary. Hydrological data are usually
determined by extensive studies of all available records and collecting additional data, if
possible.
Photographic records of pre-construction (and also during construction) condition at
locations of all engineering works and aerial surveys for dams and reservoir sites must be
supplemented by accurate ground surveys.
Planning of an irrigation project (cont…):
Geological explorations are also needed at the sites of dams, reservoirs, and major
structures.
Such data are useful in studies of water loss due to leakage and foundation designs. 
Sources of suitable amounts of building material (such as earth material, concrete
aggregates, etc.,) must be located and explored.
In case of insufficient supplies at the site, additional sources must be located.

Having collected the required data for detailed planning general plans for irrigation
structures are prepared. Such plans are dependent on topography, locations of irrigable
areas, available water sources, storage requirements and construction costs.
In summary

To better plan for an irrigation system,

1. Calculate the required system capacity

2. Determine water availability
3. Estimate your irrigated area
4. Physical considerations
Irrigation water sources

The water needed to supply an irrigation scheme is taken from a water

source.
The most common sources of water for irrigation include rivers, reservoirs
and lakes, and groundwater. 
Water availability

Irrigation season depends primarily on the availability of the water at its source.
Availability may vary a lot over the year, or even between one year and another.
Secondly, the supply depends on the capacity of the facility installed to withdraw the water
from the water source.
Further, technicians should be aware that water must be available during each week or month
of the growing season.
The scheme irrigation water supply depends, in technical terms, on two factors:

whether the water source itself has a limited flow or a limited volume,
whether the facilities that control the tapping (gate, well, pump) and conveyance (canal, pipe)
have a limited capacity.
Water availability (cont…)

It is thus important to know how much water one can tap from a given water
source over the course of a season or a year, when:

developing a new irrigation scheme,

extending an existing scheme,
changing the cropping season,
adding a second or third irrigation season,
switching from a low water demand crop to a crop such as rice with high
water requirements.
WATER QUALITY EVALUATION FOR IRRIGATION

Irrigated agriculture is dependent on an adequate water supply of usable

quality.
Water quality concerns have often been neglected because good quality
water supplies have been plentiful and readily available.
This situation is now changing in many areas. Intensive use of nearly all
good quality supplies means that new irrigation projects and old projects
seeking new or supplemental supplies must rely on lower quality and less
desirable sources.
To avoid problems when using these poor quality water supplies, there
must be sound planning to ensure that the quality of water available is put
to the best use.
WATER QUALITY EVALUATION FOR IRRIGATION

Conceptually, water quality refers to the characteristics of a water supply that will influence its
suitability for a specific use.
Quality is defined by certain physical, chemical and biological characteristics.
Water used for irrigation can vary greatly in quality depending upon type and quantity of
dissolved salts.
Salts are present in irrigation water in relatively small but significant amounts.
They originate from dissolution or weathering of the rocks and soil, including dissolution of
lime, gypsum and other slowly dissolved soil minerals.
These salts are carried with the water to wherever it is used.
In the case of irrigation, the salts are applied with the water and remain behind in the soil as
water evaporates or is used by the crop.
WATER QUALITY EVALUATION FOR IRRIGATION

The suitability of a water for irrigation is determined not only by the total amount of salt
present but also by the kind of salt.
Various soil and cropping problems develop as the total salt content increases, and special
management practices may be required to maintain acceptable crop yields.
Water quality or suitability for use is judged on the potential severity of problems that can
be expected to develop during long-term use.
The soil problems most commonly encountered and used as a basis to evaluate water
quality are those related to salinity, water infiltration rate, toxicity and a group of other
miscellaneous problems.
WATER QUALITY EVALUATION FOR IRRIGATION

WATER QUALITY-RELATED PROBLEMS IN IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE

SALINITY
Salts in soil or water reduce water availability to the crop to such an extent that yield is affected.
WATER INFILTRATION RATE
Relatively high sodium or low calcium content of soil or water reduces the rate at which irrigation water enters
soil to such an extent that sufficient water cannot be infiltrated to supply the crop adequately from one irrigation to
the next.
SPECIFIC ION TOXICITY
Certain ions (sodium, chloride, or boron) from soil or water accumulate in a sensitive crop to concentrations high
enough to cause crop damage and reduce yields.
MISCELLANEOUS
Excessive nutrients reduce yield or quality; unsightly deposits on fruit or foliage reduce marketability; excessive
corrosion of equipment increases maintenance and repairs.
 WATER REQUIREMENT FOR CROPS
 T H E C R O P WAT E R N E E D I S D E F I N E D A S T H E D E P T H ( OR
A M O U N T ) O F WAT E R N E E D E D TO M E E T T H E WAT E R L O S S
T H R O U G H E VA P O T R A N S P I R AT IO N .
 I N O T H E R W O R D S , IT I S T H E A M O U N T O F WAT E R N E E D E D B Y
T H E VA R I O U S C R O P S TO G R O W O P T I MA L LY.
 T H E C R O P WAT E R N E E D A LWAY S R E F E R S TO A C R O P G R O W N
U N D E R O P T I M A L C O N D I T I O N S , I . E . A U N I F O R M C R O P,
 A C T IV E LY G R O W IN G , C O M P L E T E LY S H A D I N G T H E G R O U N D ,
F R E E O F D IS E A S E S , A N D FAV O R A B L E S O IL C O N D I T I O N S
( IN C L U D IN G F E RT I L I T Y A N D WAT E R ) .
 T H E C R O P T H U S R E A C H E S IT S F U L L P R O D U C T I O N PO T E N T I A L
U N D E R T H E G I V E N E N V IR O N M E N T.
THE CROP WATER NEED MAINLY DEPENDS ON :

 T H E CLI M ATE : I N A S U N N Y A N D H O T CL I M AT E CRO P S N E ED

MO RE WATE R PE R D AY T H A N I N A C LO U D Y A N D C O O L
C LI MATE .
 T H E CRO P TY PE : CRO P S LI K E M A I Z E O R S U G A RCA N E N EED
MO RE WATE R T H A N C RO P S L I K E M I L LE T O R S O R G H U M .
 T H E G RO W T H STA G E O F TH E CRO P ; F U L LY G RO W N CR O P S
N EE D MO RE WATE R T H A N C RO P S TH AT H AV E J U S T BE EN
PLANTED.
INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON CROP WATER NEEDS (ETo)

 T H E MA JO R C LI M ATI C FA CTO R S W H I CH I N FL U E N CE TH E
CR O P WATE R N E ED S A R E:
 S U N S H I N E , T EM P ER ATU RE ,
 H U MI D I T Y A N D W I N D SP E ED

 T H E ETO I S U SU A LLY EX PR ES S ED I N M I LL I M ET ERS P E R

U N I T O F TI M E, E. G . MM / D AY, M M /M O N TH , O R MM /S E A S O N .
G R A S S H A S BE EN TA K E N A S TH E RE FE RE N CE C RO P.
 T H E I N F L U EN CE O F TH E CL I M AT E O N CR O P WAT ER N E ED S
IS G I V EN BY TH E R EF ER EN C E CROP
EVA PO T R A N SP I R ATI O N ( E TO ) .
 T H E ETO I S U SU A L LY EX PR ES S ED I N M I LL I M ET ERS P E R
U N I T O F TI M E, E. G . MM / D AY, M M /M O N TH , O R MM /S E A S O N .
G R A S S H A S BE EN TA K E N A S TH E RE FE RE N CE C RO P.
 E TO I S T H E RATE O F E VA P O T RA N SP I R AT I O N F RO M A LA RG E
A R EA , CO V ER ED B Y G R EE N G RA S S, 8 TO 1 5 C M TA L L,
W H I C H G RO W S A CT I V E LY, C O M P LE TE LY S H A D ES TH E
G R O U N D A N D W H I CH I S N O T S H O RT O F WATE R.
THERE ARE SEVERAL METHODS TO DETERMINE THE
ET O :

 EX PE R IM EN TA L, U S I N G A N EVA P O R ATI O N PA N
F O R MU LA : E T O = K _ PA N × E_ PA N

W H E RE : ETO : R EF ER EN CE CR O P EVA PO TR A N S P I RAT I O N , K PA N : PA N

C O E FF I C I EN T A N D E PA N : PA N E VA P O RAT I O N .
 T H EO R ETIC A L, U S I N G M E A S U R E D C LI M ATI C D ATA , E .G . TH E
B LA N EY- C R I D D LE M ETH O D

T H E B LA N EY- CR I D D LE F O R MU LA : E T O = P ( 0 .4 6 T _ M EA N + 8 )

W H E RE : E TO = RE FE RE N CE CR O P EVA PO TRA N S PI RATI O N ( M M /D AY )

A S A N AV E RA G E F O R A P E RI O D O F 1 M O N TH , T M EA N = M E A N
D A I LY T EMP ER ATU RE ( ° C) A N D P = ME A N D A I LY P E RCE N TA G E O F
A N N U A L D AY T I M E H O U RS .
I F O N LY A RO U G H ES T I M AT E O F TH E ETO VA LU E I S RE Q U I RE D .
TH E FO LL O W I N G TA BL E CA N B E U S ED .
INFLUENCE OF CROP TYPE ON CROP WATER NEEDS (Kc)
 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REFEREN CE GRA SS
CRO P AND THE CROP ACTUALLY GROWN IS G IV EN BY TH E
C ROP FACTOR, KC, AS SHO WN IN THE FO LLO WIN G
FORMULA:

ET_C ROP = E T O × KC
 WHERE: ET CROP =CROP EVAPOTRA NSPIRATIO N OR CROP
WATER NEED (MM/DAY), KC =CRO P FACTOR A ND ETO =
REFERENCE EVAPOTRANSPIRATIO N (MM/DAY )
 BOTH ET CROP AND ETO ARE EXPRESSED IN THE SAM E
U NIT: USUALLY IN MM/DAY (AS A N A VERAGE FOR A
PERIOD OF ONE MONTH) OR IN MM/MONTH .
 THE CROP FACTOR, KC, MAINLY DEPENDS ON: TYPE OF
CROP, GROWTH STAGE OF THE CROP AND CLIMATE.
K C AND THE TYPE OF CROP

 FULLY DEVELOPED MAIZE, WITH ITS LARGE LEAF AREA

WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSPIRE, AND THUS USE, MOR E
WATER THAN THE REFERENCE GRASS CROP: KC, MAIZE IS
HIGHER THAN 1. CUCUMBER, ALSO FULLY DEVELOPED,
WILL USE LESS WATER THAN THE REFERENCE GRASS
CROP: KC , CUCUMBER IS LESS THAN 1.
 K C AND THE GROWTH STAGE OF THE CROP

 A C ERTAIN CROP WILL USE MORE WATER ONCE IT IS

FULLY DEVELOPED, COMPARED TO A C ROP WHICH HAS
JUST RECENTLY B EEN PLANTED.
 K C A N D T H E C LI M ATE
 T H E C LI M ATE I N FL U E N CE S T H E D U RATI O N O F T H E TO TA L
G R O W I N G PE RI O D A N D T H E VA RI O U S G RO W T H STA G ES . I N
A CO O L CL I M AT E A C ERTA I N CR O P W I L L G R O W FA S TE R
T H A N I N A WA RM CL I M AT E.

 T H U S , TO D E TE RM I N E TH E CRO P FA C TO R K C, I T I S
N E CE S SA RY, FO R EA CH C RO P, TO K N O W TH E TO TA L
L EN G T H O F T H E G R O W I N G SE A S O N A N D TH E LE N G TH S
O F TH E VA R I O U S G R O W TH STA G ES .
T HE DE T E RMINATI ON OF THE KC VAL UE S FOR THE VAR IOUS
GROW T H STAGE S OF THE CROPS I NVOLVES SE VE R AL STE PS:

STEP 1: DETERM INATION OF THE TOTAL GROWING P ERIOD

 TH E TOTAL G ROWING P ERIOD (IN DAYS) IS T HE P E RIO D
FROM SO WING O R TRANSP LANT ING TO TH E LAST DAY OF
TH E HARVEST . I T IS MAI NLY DE PE NDENT ON: T HE T YPE OF
CROP AND T HE VARI E TY, T HE CL IMAT E AND T HE PL ANT ING
DATE . AS T HE GROW ING PE RIOD HE AVILY DE PENDS ON
LOCAL CI RCUMSTANCES ( E.G. L OC AL C ROP VARIE T IE S) IT IS
ALWAYS BE ST TO OBTAIN T HE SE DATA LOCAL LY.

STEP 2: DETERM INATION OF THE G RO WT H STAGE S

 ONCE T HE TOTAL GROW ING PE RI OD IS KNOW N, T HE
DURATI ON ( IN DAYS) OF THE VAR IOUS GR OW T H STAGE S
HAS TO BE DET E RMI NE D. T HE TOTAL GROW ING PE RI OD IS
DIVIDE D INTO 4 GROW T H STAGE S:
 TH E IN ITI A L S TA G E : TH I S I S TH E P ER I O D F RO M S O W I N G
O R TR A N S P LA N TI N G U N TI L TH E CRO P CO V ER S A BO U T 1 0 %
O F TH E G RO U N D .
 TH E C R O P D E V EL O PM EN T STA G E : T H I S P ER I O D S TA RT S AT
TH E EN D O F TH E I N I TI A L S TA G E A N D L A S T S U N T I L T H E
F U LL G R O U N D CO V E R H A S B EE N RE A CH ED ( G RO U N D
CO V ER 7 0 - 8 0 % ) ; I T D O ES N O T N EC ES SA R I LY M E A N TH AT
TH E C R O P I S AT I TS M A X I M U M H E I G H T.
 TH E M ID - S EA S O N STA G E : T H I S P ER I O D S TA RTS AT T H E
EN D O F TH E CR O P D EV E L O P ME N T S TA G E A N D L A S TS U N TI L
MAT U RI T Y; I T I N C LU D ES F LO W E RI N G A N D G R A I N - S ET TI N G .
 : T H I S PE RI O D S TA RT S AT TH E EN D O F TH E M I D S EA SO N TH E
LATE S EA SO N S TA G E S TA G E A N D L A ST S U N TI L TH E L A S T
D AY O F TH E H A RV E S T; I T I N C LU D ES RI PE N I N G .
ST EP 3 : D E TER M I N AT I O N O F C R O P FA C TO R S
 P ER CRO P, F O U R C RO P FA C TO RS H AV E TO BE D E TE RM I N E D :
O N E CR O P FA CTO R F O R EA CH O F TH E F O U R G R O W TH
S TA G E S.
IRRIGATION WATER NEEDS
 CR O P WATE R N EE D ( I T C RO P ) D ET ER MI N E D CA N BE
S U P PL I E D TO TH E CR O P S I N VA R I O U S WAY S : BY R A I N FA LL ,
BY IR R IG ATI O N A N D B Y A C O M B I N ATI O N O F I R R I G ATI O N
A N D R A IN FA LL . I N S O M E CA S ES , PA RT O F TH E C RO P WATE R
N E ED I S S U PP L I ED BY T H E G RO U N D WATE R TH RO U G H
CA PI LL A RY RI S E.

 I N C A S ES W H ER E A L L T H E WATE R N E ED ED F O R O P TI MA L
G R O W TH O F TH E CRO P I S P RO V I D E D BY R A I N FA L L,
I R RI G AT I O N I S N O T RE Q U I RE D A N D T H E I R R I G ATI O N
WATER N E ED ( I N ) E Q U A LS ZE RO .
 I N CA S E S W H ERE T H E RE I S N O RA I N FA L L AT A L L D U RI N G
T H E G RO W I N G S E A S O N , A LL WAT E R H A S TO BE SU PP L I E D
BY I R RI G AT I O N . C O N S E Q U E N T LY, T H E I RRI G ATI O N WAT E R
N E ED ( I N ) E Q U A LS TH E CRO P WATE R N EE D ( E T CR O P ) :

IN = ET _ C R O P.
 I N MO S T CA SE S , H O W EV ER, PA RT O F TH E C RO P WAT E R
N E ED I S SU PP L I ED BY RA I N FA LL A N D T H E R EM A I N I N G PA RT
BY I R RI G AT I O N . I N S U CH C A S ES TH E I RRI G ATI O N WATE R
N E ED ( I N ) I S T H E D I F F ER EN CE BE TW E EN T H E CRO P WAT E R
N E ED ( E T CRO P) A N D T H AT PA RT O F TH E RA I N FA LL W H I C H
I S EF F ECT I V ELY U S ED BY T H E P LA N T S ( P E) .

I N F O R MU LA : I N = ET_ C R O P - P E
Determination of the effective rainfall
 W H E N R A I N WAT ER ( 1 ) FA L LS O N TH E SO I L S U R FA C E, SO ME
O F I T I N F I LTR AT ES I N TO T H E S O I L ( 2 ) , S O M E S TA G N ATES O N
T H E SU RFA CE ( 3 ) , W H I LE SO M E FL O W S O V E R TH E S U RFA CE
A S RU N O F F ( 4 ) .
 W H E N T H E RA I N FA LL STO PS , S O M E O F T H E WATE R
S TA G N AT I N G O N T H E SU RFA CE ( 3 ) E VA P O R AT ES TO T H E
ATMO S P H E RE ( 5 ) , W H I L E TH E RE S T S LO W LY I N F I LTR AT ES
I N TO T H E SO I L ( 6 ) .
 F RO M A L L TH E WAT ER TH AT I N F I LT RATE S I N TO T H E S O I L
( ( 2 ) A N D ( 6 ) ) , S O M E P ERC O L AT ES B EL O W T H E RO O T Z O N E
( 7 ) , W H I L E TH E R ES T RE M A I N S STO RE D I N T H E RO O T Z O N E
(8).
 EF F EC T IV E R A I N FA L L ( 8 ) = ( 1 ) - ( 4) = ( 5 ) = ( 7 )
 I N O TH E R W O R D S , TH E E F FE CT I V E R A I N FA LL ( 8 ) I S T H E TO TA L
RA I N FA LL ( 1 ) M I N U S R U N O F F ( 4 ) M I N U S E VA P O RATI O N ( 5 ) A N D
M I N U S D E EP P ER CO L ATI O N ( 7 ) ; O N LY TH E WAT ER RE TA I N ED I N T H E
RO O T Z O N E ( 8 ) C A N BE U S ED BY T H E P LA N TS , A N D R EP RE SE N T S
W H AT I S C A L LE D T H E EF F EC TI V E PA RT O F TH E RA I N WATE R. T H E
T ERM EF F EC TI V E RA I N FA LL I S U SE D TO D EF I N E T H I S FR A CT I O N O F
T H E TO TA L A MO U N T O F R A I N WAT ER U SE F U L F O R ME E TI N G T H E
WAT ER N EE D O F T H E C RO P S .

 E X A MP LE O F SI M PL E F O RM U L A E U SE D TO ES T I MAT E PE :
· P E = 0 .8 P - 25 I F P > 7 5 M M /M O N TH
· P E = 0 .6 P - 10 I F P < 7 5 M M /M O N TH
o W I T H P = R A I N FA L L O R PRE CI PI TAT I O N ( MM /M O N TH ) A N D P E =
E FF EC TI V E RA I N FA LL O R E FF E CT I V E P RE CI PI TAT I O N ( M M /M O N TH ) .
Examples of calculation of the irrigation water needs
Step 1: Calculate for each month the effective rainfall (Pe)
S T EP 2 : CA L CU L AT E T H E I R RI G AT I O N WATE R N E ED , BO TH I N
MM/MO N T H A N D M M /D AY, U S I N G TH E F O R M U L A :
I N = ET _ C R O P – PE ; E. G . FEB : I N = 6 9 - 2 = 6 7 M M , ETC .
IRRIGATION WATER NEED OF RICE
 FOR A LL FIEL D CRO P S , A S H A S BEEN EXPL AI NED IN TH E P REV IO U S
SECTI ON , TH E IRRIG AT IO N WAT E R N EED (IN ) I S D ETERMI N ED A S
FOLLO WS:

 STE P1: D ETERM IN E TH E RE F E RE N CE CRO P EVA PO TRAN SPI RATI ON : ET O

 STE P 2: D ETERMI NE T H E CROP FA CTO RS: K C
STEP 3: CA LCU LAT E T H E CRO P WAT E R N EED: ET CRO P = ET O × K C
 STE P 4: D ETERMI NE T H E E F F E CT I VE RAI N FA LL: PE
 STE P 5: CA LCU L AT E T H E I RRI GAT I O N WATER NE ED : IN = ET_C R OP - PE
PA D D Y RI C E, G RO W I N G W I T H "I TS F E ET I N TH E WAT ER " , I S A N
EX C E PT IO N . N O T O N LY H A S TH E CR O P WAT ER N EE D ( E T
CRO P ) TO BE S U P P LI ED BY I R RI G AT I O N O R R A I N FA L L, BU T
A LS O WATE R I S N E E D E D F O R :

 SATU RATI O N O F TH E SO I L BE FO RE P LA N TI N G
 PE RCO LATI O N A N D SE EPA G E LO SS E S
 ES TA BL I S H M E N T O F A WATE R LAY ER
 I N S U M M A RY, T H E D E T E R M I N AT I O N O F T H E I R R I G AT I O N WAT E R
N E E D F O R PA D D Y R I C E R E Q U I R E S T H E F O L L O W I N G S T E P S :

 S T E P 1 : D E T E R M I N E T H E R E F E R E N C E C R O P E VA P O T R A N S P I R AT I O N : E T O
 S T E P 2 : D E T E R M I N E T H E C R O P FA C T O R S : K C
 S T E P 3 : C A L C U L AT E T H E C R O P WAT E R N E E D : E T C R O P = E T O × K C
 S T E P 4 : D E T E R M I N E T H E A M O U N T O F WAT E R N E E D E D T O S AT U R AT E T H E
S O I L F O R L A N D P R E PA R AT I O N B Y P U D D L I N G : S AT
 S T E P 5 : D E T E R M I N E T H E A M O U N T O F P E R C O L AT I O N A N D S E E PA G E
LOSSES: PERC
 S T E P 6 : D E T E R M I N E T H E A M O U N T O F WAT E R N E E D E D TO E S TA B L I S H A
WAT E R L AY E R : W L
 S T E P 7 : D E T E R M I N E T H E E F F E C T I V E R A I N FA L L : P E
 S T E P 8 : C A L C U L AT E T H E I R R I G AT I O N WAT E R N E E D : I N = E T C R O P + S AT
+ PERC + WL - PE
 ST EP 1 , 2 A N D 3 : D E TE RM I N E E TO , K C A N D E T C RO P. ET
CRO P I S D ET ER MI N E D S I M I L A RLY TO A L L O T H E R F I E LD
CRO P S A S D I S CU S S ED I N S E CT I O N S A B O V E .

 ST EP 4 : D E TE RM I N E T H E A MO U N T O F WATE R N EE D E D TO
SATU RAT E TH E SO I L F O R LAND PR EPA RAT I O N BY
PU D D L I N G : SAT. I N TH E M O N T H BE FO RE SO W I N G O R
TRA N S P LA N TI N G , WAT ER I S N EE D E D TO S ATU R AT E T H E
RO O T ZO N E . T H E A M O U N T O F WAT ER N E E D ED D E PE N D S O N
TH E SO I L T Y P E A N D RO O T I N G D EP T H . I T I S A S SU M ED T H AT
TH E A MO U N T O F WATE R N E ED ED TO S AT U R AT E T H E R O O T
ZO N E I S 2 0 0 MM . TH U S:
S AT = 2 00 M M.
Cont...
 STEP 5: DETERMINE THE AMOUN T OF PERCOLATION AND
SEEPAG E LOSSES: PERC. THE PERCOLATION AN D SEEPAG E
LOSSES DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF SOIL. THEY WILL BE
LOW IN VERY HEAVY, WELL-PUD DLED CLAY SO ILS AND
H IGH IN THE CASE OF SANDY SO ILS. THE PERCOLATION
A ND SEEPAGE LOSSES VARY BETWEEN 4 AN D 8 MM /D AY.

 STEP 6: DETERMINE THE AMOUN T OF WATER NEED ED TO

ESTABLISH A WATER LAYER: WLA WATER LAY ER IS
ESTABLISHED DURING TRANSPLAN TING O R SO WIN G AND
M AINTA INED THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON. TH E
A MOUN T OF WATER NEEDED FOR MAINTAINING TH E
WATER LAYER HAS ALREADY BEEN TA KEN IN TO
A CCOUNT WITH THE DETERMINATION OF TH E
PERCOLATION AND SEEPAGE LOSSES. TH E AMO UNT OF
WATER NEEDED TO ESTABLISH THE WATER LAYER,
H OWEV ER, STILL HAS TO BE CO NSID ERED . IT IS A SSUMED
THAT A WATER LAYER OF 100 MM IS ESTABLISHED .
 ST EP 7 : D ET ERM I N E T H E E FF E CT I V E R A I N FA LL : P E A S
A BO V E.
 ST EP 8 : CA L CU L AT E TH E I RRI G ATI O N WATE R N E ED : I N = E T
CRO P + S AT + P ERC + W L – PE TH E I R RI G AT I O N WATE R N E ED
I S CA L CU LAT ED U S I N G TH E F O LL O W I N G F O RMU LA ;

IN = ET C R O P + S AT + P ER C + W L - PE
 Deep Learning 1

1. Explain the difference between crop water requirement and irrigation water requirement.
2. Discuss the various benefits of irrigation development in Rwanda and show why it is important in the semi-
arid part of a country.
3. Discuss the environmental effects of irrigated agriculture in a newly introduced scheme.
4. Discuss the main differences between Pan and Blanley-Criddle methods in calculating the crop water need.
5. Think and set an evapotranspiration-crop water requirement, expert knowledge-based model:
a. What would be the possible inputs to your model?
b. What would be the possible output of your model?
c. How would you investigate the sensitivity of your inputs into your numerical model?