CHAPTER FOUR

4. Irrigation methods And Irrigation canal system

design
4.1. Irrigation methods:
Among the different irrigation systems surface irrigation system will be used for the
Project area; and the irrigation water will be obtained from Ambowuha River and by
Constructing diversion weir and conveying the water commonly through lined main and
Secondary (MC&SC) canals and then leading to earthen tertiary and field (TC&FC) canals;
And finally irrigation takes place mostly in furrows.
For our project, among the various irrigation methods, surface irrigation method has been
Selected. Of the surface irrigation methods, furrow, border and basin irrigation methods
Can be used to supply irrigation water to the plants/crops. However, each method has its
Own advantages and disadvantages. Care should be taken when choosing the method
Which is best suited to the local circumstances, i.e., depending on slopes, soil types,
Selected crop types, amount of water available, etc. of the command area.
Based on the above factors surface irrigation method has been proposed for the proposed
crops in our project. The method allows applying light irrigation and can be laid out in
Sloping fields along the contour. Furrow irrigation method is best suited for most of the
Proposed and row planted crops. In general, furrow irrigation method is simple,
Manageable and widely practiced irrigation method. This method is suitable for row crops
That cannot stand in water for long periods. The only thing required to use this method is
Row planting of crops. Besides, basin and border irrigation method would be used for the
Non-row planted crops.
4.2. IRRIGATION CANAL SYSTEM DESIGN
Irrigation scheme which utilize weir, a barrage or a storage reservoir necessitates the
construction of network of canals. The entire system of canals (main and
branches)distributed over the field are to be designed properly for certain realistic

value of maximum discharge that must pass through them so as to provide sufficient

irrigation to the command area; the success of the flow irrigation depends on the perfect design
of the network of canals. the design of canal is carried out in considerations of Kennedys and
Laceys theory

Which are based on the characteristics of sediment load i.e. (silt loam) in canal water.
The design consideration of irrigation canals naturally varies according to the type of soil;
Again the velocity of flow in the canal should be critical. (I.e. non-silting and non-
Scouring).

4.3 .Canal Alignment

A Canal has to be aligned in such a way that it covers the entire area proposed to be
Irrigated with shortest possible length. A shorter length of canal ensures less low head due
to friction and small loss of water due to seepage and evaporation; so that it is Possible to
Increase canal efficiency (Ea); and hence additional area can be brought under cultivation.
Alignment of canal on the ridge is the most economical. Because it can irrigate on both sides of
the canal (ridge) and it will have a null probability of cross drainage canals being
Exist.

General Considerations for Canal Alignment:

The following points should be kept in mind in alignment of canals.
The alignment should be short as far as possible.
The alignment should be straight as far as possible.
The alignment should cross the natural stream, drainage, etc. approximately
at the right angles.
The alignment should not involve heavy cutting or banking.
The alignment should be such that the maximum area may be irrigated with
minimum length of the canal.
The alignment should not pass through the water logged area because the
Canal may be collapsed due to the heavy moisture in the area.

4.4. Hydraulic Design of the Canal

Canal is designed in a way which, its longitudinal and cross section is fixed out to suit
Requirements; thus various canals dimensions like bed width, depth, side slope,
Longitudinal slope, etc. are to be fixed in the design of irrigation canal.
Irrigation canals are designed to take the maximum discharge safely which is called full supply
discharge.
4.4.1Full Supply Discharge (FSD)