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Chap 1

The document discusses irrigation engineering, including definitions, objectives, advantages and disadvantages of irrigation, irrigation development in Ethiopia, and standards for irrigation water quality. It notes that irrigation is needed to supplement rainfall and ensure reliable crop yields, but must be properly managed to avoid issues like waterlogging and groundwater pollution.

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Eba Getachew
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32 views15 pages

Chap 1

The document discusses irrigation engineering, including definitions, objectives, advantages and disadvantages of irrigation, irrigation development in Ethiopia, and standards for irrigation water quality. It notes that irrigation is needed to supplement rainfall and ensure reliable crop yields, but must be properly managed to avoid issues like waterlogging and groundwater pollution.

Uploaded by

Eba Getachew
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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

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