IRRIGATION

ENGINEERING

Course Instructor: Arif Asghar Gopang

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture students will be able:

 To describe classification of canals, alignment of canals

 To describe the distribution system for canal irrigation

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 CANAL
CLASSIFICATION
1. Based upon their Function

i. Irrigation Canal
ii. Navigation Canal
iii. Power Canal
iv. Feeder Canal
v. Link Canal

2. Based upon the Nature of Source of Supply

i. Permanent Canal
ii. Inundation Canal
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3. Based on Discharge and its Relative Importance

i. Main Canal
ii. Branch Canal
iii. Distributary
iv. Minor
v. Watercourse (or field canal)

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THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR CANAL
IRRIGATION

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4. Based on Canal Alignment

i. Watershed Canal or Ridge Canal

ii. Contour Canal
iii. Side slope Canal

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 1- Watershed Canal
o The dividing line between the catchment areas of two
streams (drains) is called Watershed or the Ridge.
o The watershed or ridge line divides the drainage areas of two
streams.
o The canal which is aligned on the natural watershed (ridge
line) is called a watershed canal or a ridge canal.
o The canal aligned on the ridge saves the cost of construction
of cross drainage works.
o It is advantageous and necessary to align the canals on the
ridge, when land slops are relatively flat and uniform.
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Watershed Canal

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 2- Contour Canal
o The watershed canal is not feasible or economical in hilly
areas, because the ridge is hundred meters above the river.
o Therefore, It is practically impossible to take canal on such a
higher ridge.
o In such conditions, contour canals are usually constructed.
o Contour channels follow contours and irrigates only on one
side because the area on the other side is higher.

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Contour Canal

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 3- Side slope Canal
o The side slope is aligned at right angels to the contours i.e
along the side slopes.
o Such a canal run parallel to the natural drainage flow, it
usually does not intercept drainage channels, thus avoiding
the construction of cross-drainage works.

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4. Based on the surface boundary

i. Alluvial Canal
ii. Non-alluvial Canal
iii. Rigid canal

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 ALLUVIAL SOILS AND ALLUVIAL CANALS

o The soil which is so formed by transportation and deposition

of silt through the agency of water, over a course of time is
called the Alluvial Soil.
o The canals which are excavated through such soils are called
Alluvial Canals.
o Canal irrigation (direct irrigation using a weir or a barrage) is
generally preferred in such areas as compared to the storage
irrigation (by using dams/reservoirs).

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 ALLUVIAL SOILS AND ALLUVIAL CANALS

o Alluvial soil is very fertile soil, because it absorbs a good

percentage of rainfall and retains it in the sub stratum.
o Thus, it results in high yield and productivity of land, as
water remains in the root zone of the crop.
o The area of alluvial soil is even and has flat surface slope,
hard foundation is generally not found in this type of soil.

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 NON-ALLUVIAL SOILS

o The soils formed in rocky plain area after disintegration of

mountainous regions over period of time are called Non-
alluvial Soils.
o Canals passing through the type of soils are called Non-
Alluvial Canals.
o Storage irrigation is preferred in these type of soils.
o It has uneven topography and hard foundations are available.
o The rivers passing through such soils do not shift their
courses.

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Alluvial Canal Non-Alluvial Canal

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Rigid or Lined Canal

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Catchment Area

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THANKS