Ambo University

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dept.: Civil 5th year

Course: Irrigation Engineering

Academic Year: 2023/24

Misra G.
 1. Introduction
1.1. Irrigation – Definition, Need & Objectives
Definition:
 Irrigation is any process, other than natural precipitation, that supplies water to
crops for successful growth.
 Irrigation is the controlled application of water to croplands.
 Irrigation is the application of water to the soil to supplement natural
precipitation and provide an environment that is optimum for crop production.
Need:
 Irrigation is needed for a continuous and reliable water supply to the different
crops in accordance with their different needs.
 When the water supply is not sufficient and timely, crop yield is reduced, and
consequently famines and disasters.
 However, irrigation may be supplementary or full based on rainfall availability.
 Irrigation – objectives

 To create an optimal soil moisture regime for maximizing

crop production and quality (primary objective)
 To cool the plant or protect it from frost

 To leach or dilute excess salts present in the soil

 To facilitate continuous cropping

 To enhance fertilizer uptake

 1.2. Irrigation – Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages:
 irrigation helps to stabilize the farm economy
 irrigation can improve the quality of crops
 through irrigation, the time of harvest can be more closely controlled
 with irrigation, fertilizers placed in the soil are available at once to
plants
 eliminates mixed cropping
 it protects certain high-value crops from frost damage/high
temperature.
 it also increases the survival of transplanted crops
 conjunctive use of irrigation projects – hydroelectric power, domestic
water supply
 Cont’d
Disadvantages:
 If not properly managed, irrigation may result in the outbreak of
waterborne diseases
 Water logging problem due to over-irrigation and thus a reduction in
crop yields.
 Groundwater pollution through the leaching of fertilizers
 Irrigation is relatively expensive and the management is difficult.
 Dumping of weather

Global cropland area per capita decreased continuously over the

period between 1961 and 2016: from about 0.45 hectare per capita in
1961 to 0.21 hectare per capita in 2016.

But, if we are to deal with the future, we need an efficient and well-managed
irrigation system!
 1.3. Irrigation Development in Ethiopia

 The agricultural sector in the country contributes about 40 percent of the GDP
and employs 80 percent of the labor force.
 Virtually all food crops come from rain-fed agriculture. Generally, 75 % of the
rainfall is concentrated in a period of 3 to 4 months.
 Drought and famine are common phenomena in Ethiopia. Since the 1950’s,
there have been 13 events of major drought.
 The probability of a drought shock in Ethiopia is as high as 3 out of 10 years.

 These droughts and famines are due to the failure of rainfall in amount and
mainly due to variation in time.
 Nowadays, highly variable rainfall in spatial and temporal scales makes
farming a risky business.
 Cont’d

Source: Seleshi et al., 2010

 Cont’d

Source: Seleshi et al., 2010

 Cont’d
Problems in Irrigation Development in the Country
Irrigation plays a significant role in the agricultural development of the country. But
there are still enormous constraints in its development.
 Lack of mapping data:
• Mapping information is not available at a scale suitable for detailed studies of
irrigation areas, dam sites, etc.
• Similarly, data related to soils are not found in sufficient detail for all potential
areas.
 Lack of hydrologic data:
• The collection of hydro-meteorological information is not adequate.
• River gauges are mostly available for major rivers and bigger tributaries.
 Lack of resources:
• The level of skilled manpower available in the country is not adequate to carry
out the number of projects being demanded by the regions.
• Inadequacy in construction capability due to inadequate machinery, equipment,
and spare parts.
 Cont’d
 Lack of Finance:

• Despite the ambitious plan of the government, sources of finance for

implementing the planned irrigation projects are expected from foreign

aid and loans.
 Inadequate research undertakings in the area:

• So far, little emphasis on irrigation in agricultural research.

 Operation and Maintenance:

• Institutional water operation and management is in a very poor condition

with regard to the administration of supply, maintenance, and repair of

the networks due to a lack of trained manpower, and sufficient
maintenance tools and equipment.
 1.4 Standards of Irrigation Water

 Every water is not suitable for irrigation.

 The quality of irrigation water is very much influenced by the
contents of the soil, which is to be irrigated.
 Particular water may be harmful for irrigation on a particular soil
but the same water may be tolerable or even useful on some other
soil.
 Irrigation water may be said to be unsatisfactory for its intended
use if it contains:
 Chemicals toxic to plants or the persons
 Chemicals that react with the soil to produce unsatisfactory
moisture
characteristics
 Various types of impurities which make the water unfit for
irrigation
 Sediment concentration in water
 The total concentration of soluble salts in water
 The concentration of potentially toxic elements present in water
 Bicarbonate concentrations
There are two main causes of salinity:
 Salinity caused by the supply of irrigation water and
 Salinity caused by the upward movement of water and salts,
related to high water tables and lack of drainage.
THANK YOU