Ambo University

School of Civil and Environmental

Engineering

Program: Civil Engineering - CEP

Course : Irrigation Engineering

Academic Year: 2020/21

Mesfin M. (M.Sc.)
 Course Contents
Course objectives:
(i) To introduce basic concepts of soil-water-plant interactions, as well as
irrigation systems design, planning and management.
(ii) To develop analytical skills in the design of irrigation projects

Chapter 1.0 Introduction

1.1 Irrigation – Definition, Need and Objectives
1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation
1.3 Irrigation development status in Ethiopia

Chapter 2.0 Basics in Irrigation Engineering

2.1 Planning Irrigation systems
2.2 Soil-Plant-Water relation - Overview
2.3 Crop water requirement
2.4 Base, delta and duty for fixing canal capacity
2.5 Measurement of irrigation water
 Course Contents
Chapter 3.0 Irrigation Application methods
3.1 Surface irrigation methods
3.2 Pressurized irrigation methods

Chapter 4.0 Irrigation distribution Network

4.1 Definition
4.2 Types of conveyance structures
4.3 Canal Irrigation System
4.4 Irrigation Control Structures

Chapter 5.0 Drainage

5.1 Definition, Need and benefit of drainage
5.2 Types of drainage system
5.3 Planning and Design of drainage system
 REFERENCES
1. Basak, N.N. 2008. Irrigation Engineering. Tata Mc Graw Hill Ltd. New Delhi.

2. Garg, S.K. 2005. Irrigation Engineering and Hydraulic Structures. 19th ed.,
New Delhi

3. Keller, J. and R. D. Bliesner. 1990. Sprinkler and Trickle Irrigation. Van

Nostrand Reinhold Pub., New York.

4. Lal, R. 1978. Surface Irrigation Hydraulics. H.C. Agrawal M.com pub.

Allahabad, India.

5. Michael, A.M. 1978. Irrigation Principles and Practices. Vikas pub. Ltd. New
Delhi.

6. Walker, W.R. and G.V. Skogerobe. 1987. Surface Irrigation - Irrigation

Theory and Practice. Prentice Hall Inc. New Jersey.
 Chapter one
Irrigation – Definition, Need & objectives
Definition:
 Irrigation is any process, other than natural precipitation,
which supplies water to crops for their 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 water supply is not sufficient and timely, crop yield
reduced and consequently famines and disasters.
 But 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 from frost

 To leach or dilute excess salts present in the soil

 To facilitate continuous cropping

 To enhance fertilizer uptake

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
 irrigation protects certain high value crops from frost damage/high
temperature.
 irrigation increases the survival of transplanted crops
 Conjunctive use of irrigation projects – hydroelectric power, domestic water
supply
Irrigation – Advantages and Disadvantages
Disadvantages:
 if not properly managed, irrigation may result in the outbreak of water borne
diseases
 Water logging problem due to over irrigation and thus reduction in crop yields.
 Ground water pollution through leaching of fertilizers
 Irrigation is relatively expensive and the management is difficult.
 Dumping of weather

We need irrigation!

One-third of the world population is supported with only 17% of the world
cultivated land irrigated.

But, if we are to deal with the future, we need efficient and well-managed
irrigation system!
Irrigation Application Methods

 Surface Irrigation
 Furrow, Border, Basin

 Pressurized Irrigation
 Sprinkler Irrigation (Center Pivot, Linear move, Solid Set, etc.)

 Trickle Irrigation (Micro, Drip, etc. )

Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 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 rain fall 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 13events of major drought.
 The probability of a drought shock in Ethiopia is as high as 3 out of 10 years.
 These drought and famine are due to failure of rainfall in amount and mainly
due to variation in time.

 Nowadays, highly variable rainfall in spatial and temporal scales make farming
a risky business.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Government policy (Water resources Development policy – 2002-2016)
 Transformation and intensification of agricultural sector
 Optimal development of water resources of the country

 Water resource of the country:

 Surface water is about 122 billion m3
 Ground water potential is about 2.6 billion m3

 One of the fundamental water resource development options so as to

transform the agricultural sector is irrigation development.

 Why? Because
 Irrigation development provides the best insurance against weather-
induced fluctuation in total agricultural production.
 It is the only way in which we can make our agriculture sustainable,
competitive and profitable.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Cognizant of this fact irrigation is now a national issue and is given a priority
to meet the following objectives.
 To increase production and supply of food crops both quantitatively and
qualitatively so that the population will be fed adequately.
 To improve the quality of life of rural population through the generation
of higher incomes and reduction of poverty.
 To promote higher standards of nutrition and health, greater equity
progress in education and personal freedom.
 To increase and diversify the production of raw materials for industry and
to promote linkage with the industrial sector
 To increase and diversify production for export and maximize the
country’s foreign exchange earnings from agriculture
 To make agriculture the driving force for economic development
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Modern irrigation started at the beginnings of 1960’s at the middle awash valley.

 Potential irrigable land of the country = gross 3.7 Mha (FAO,1995)

 Actually irrigated = 0.19 Mha (FAO, 1995)

 Irrigation projects in Ethiopia
small scale (<200ha) = 81138ha
medium scale (200ha < A < 3000ha) =44837ha
large scale (>3000ha) = 63581ha

 Total area under traditional and modern irrigation (Source: MoWR,2004/5)

 The total area irrigated till 1991 = 176015 ha,
 Total Area irrigated in 1998 = 197,250 ha
 Total area irrigated at present = 250,613ha due to rapid increment of the
area under traditional irrigation.

But figures on water resources and irrigation lack consistency!

Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Lands potentially suitable for Irrigation in Ethiopia:
No River Basin Area ('000ha)
1 Abbay 5800
2 Awash 406
3 Baro-Akobo 1100
4 Genale-Dawa 660
5 Mereb 38
6 Omo-Ghibe 348
7 Rift Valley 80
8 Tekeze 1383
9 Wabi-Shebele 335  
Total 10150

 Based upon the various river basin master plans and land and water resources
surveys, the aggregate irrigation potentials of Ethiopia have been estimated to
be 2,523,000 million hectares, net. The gross irrigation potential would be
about 3.7 million hectares.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
1. Kesem & Tendaho Irrigation Projects
The projects are found in the Awash Basin.
A total of 90,000ha Irrigation area with all its infrastructure
Dams design completed and construction started.
It is assumed that all of is construction works will be completed soon.

2. Ethiopian Nile Irrigation & Drainage Projects

These projects are found in the Abbay & Tekeze Basins.
 Arjo- Dedesa Irrigation Projects.
This project area is located in the Abbay Basin .
It has a total area of 14,300 ha.
Previously it was studied to a reconnaissance level.
It is now been studied at feasibility and design level.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
 Humara Irrigation Project
This project area is located in the Tekeze Basin .
It has a total area of 43,000 ha.
It is studied at feasibility and design level.

 Gumara Irrigation Project

This project area is situated around Lake Tana in the Nile Basin .
It has a total area of 14,000 ha.
Previously the area was studied to a reconnaissance level.
The project is being studied at a design level.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
3. Lake Tana sub basin irrigation project
 Ethiopian Government financed projects
The projection areas are located in Abbay Basin. It includes:
 North East Lake Tana, North West Lake Tana , South West Lake

Tana, Jemma, and Gilgel Abbay Irrigation Projects.

 They are feasibility study and detailed design projects.

 They constitutes a total area of 62,457 ha

 World Bank financed projects

It includes Rib, Megech and Anger Irrigation Projects
Feasibility and Detailed Design Project
Covers a total of 20,000 ha.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:
4. Koga Irrigation Project
 This project is located in Abbay Basin.
 Its construction partially completed
 It covers a total area of 7,000ha.

5. Lake Abbaya Sub-basin Irrigation Project

 It includes Gelana, Gidabo and Billate Irrigation Projects.
 They are located in the Rift Valley Lakes Basin.
 The total area of these projects is 31,920 ha.
 The projects studied at design level
6. Ziway Irrigation Project
 The project area is located in the Rift Valley Lakes Basin.
 It is feasibility study and detailed design project
 The project area covers 15,500 ha.
 Originally intended for pressurized irrigation; later changed to surface
irrigation
 Final detail design completed and construction started.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS
7. Wabi Shabele Basin Irrigation Projects
 This includes Gololcha, Errer, Iliyon and Buldaho Irrigation Projects
 They make up a total area of 52,920 ha.
 Planned for feasibility level study.

8. Raya Valley Pressurized Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Danakil dry basin
 Source of water is ground water
 Total area being studied is 18 000 ha
 Feasibility study completed
 Detail design for First phase of the project completed.
 Detail design for the second phase of the project which consists of
development of 100 production wells just started.
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
ON GOING IRRIGATION PROJECTS:

9. Kobo-Girana Valley Pressurized Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Danakil dry basin
 Source of water is ground water
 Total area studied is 17,000 ha
 The project completed and implementation started

10. Wolkyte Irrigation Project

 Feasibility study and Detailed design project
 Located in Tekeze Basin
 Total area being studied is about 40,000 ha
Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
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 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 to all

potential areas.
 Lack of Hydrologic Data:
 The collection of hydro-meteorological information are 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.

Irrigation – Development in Ethiopia
 Lack of Finance:
 Despite ambitious plan of the government, sources of finance for
implementing the planned irrigation projects is expected from
foreign aid and loans.

 Inadequate research undertakings in the area:

 So far, little emphasis for 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 lack of trained manpower,
sufficient maintenance tools and equipment.
THANK YOU