EECF 3142: Irrigation Engineering I

Irrigation water requirement:

Irrigation requirement = Crop water requirement − water gains

Crop water requirement = the crop evapotranspiration under standard conditions, 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝

Water gains: Rainfall, groundwater contribution (through capillary), and soil water

Definitions

Crop irrigation requirement (synonymous to crop irrigation requirement)

It is the depth of water needed to meet the water loss through evapotranspiration of a disease-
free crop, growing in large fields under non-restricting soil conditions including soil water and
fertility and achieving full production potential under the given environment.

The net irrigation requirement (In)

Net irrigation requirement (In) = Crop water requirement − water gains
Crop water requirement = the crop evapotranspiration under standard conditions, 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝

Water gains: Rainfall, groundwater contribution (through capillary), and soil water

is obtained by subtracting from the crop water requirement (ETcrop) the expected gains of water.
The gains include effective rainfall (Peff), ground water contribution (Ge) and stored soil water
(Wb). To avoid any water deficit during the season, the estimations are made with rainfall
amounts that can be expected 3 out of 4 years or 4 out of 5 years.
The effective rainfall is defined as that part of rainfall which is effectively used by the crop after
rainfall losses due to surface run off and deep percolation have been accounted for.
Effective rainfall is calculated as a percentage of the dependablel rainfall e.g the monthly rainfall
that can be expected 3 out of 4 years or 4 out of 5 years.

The gross irrigation requirement

In the calculations of the gross irrigation requirement, the amount of water needed for leaching
accumulated salts from the root zone and to compensate for water losses during conveyance and
application are included. The leaching requirement (LR) and irrigation efficiency (E) are expressed
as a fraction of the net irrigation requirement.

Scheme irrigation requirement

The scheme irrigation requirement is the sum of the individual irrigation requirements of each of
the crops.

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Seasonal net irrigation requirement

For preliminary planning purpose, monthly data are normally used to determine the seasonal
irrigation requirement.
The water requirements for the different months are computed by considering the mean crop
water requirement (𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 ) and the dependable effective rainfall (𝑃𝑒𝑓𝑓 ) only. No other gain of
water is considered.
Example: Calculation of seasonal net irrigation requirement

Crop- Maize; Length of growing season-150 days; Sowing date-01/03; Soil – Sandy loam
March April May June July Total
31 days 30 days 31 days 30 days 28 days
ET0 (mm/day) 2.4 3.7 4.6 4.9 5.5
K c (-) 0.4 0.68 1.15 1.15 0.88
ETcrop (mm/day) 1.0 2.5 5.3 5.6 4.8
ETcrop (mm) 30 75 164 169 136 574
Rainfall (mm) 14 15 0 0 0
Peff (mm) 8 10 0 0 0 18
Inet (mm) 22 65 164 169(peak) 136 556
Seasonal Net irrigation requirement (mm)

Peak irrigation requirement

For preliminary planning, the capacity of the engineering works can be obtained from supply
needed during the month of peak water use. In selecting 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 in the months of peak water use,
knowledge should be obtained on level and frequency at which high demands for water can be
expected. When sufficiently long climatic records are available (10 years or more) a frequency
analysis can be made like that for rainfall. The value of 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 selected for design can then be
based on a probability of 75 or 80 percent or highest 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 value out of 4 or 5 years.

Groundwater contribution (Ge)

Ground water, if not too far below the root zone, may add water to the root zone by capillary
rise. The extent of capillary rise depends on:
- the depth of ground water table below the root zone,
- the soil type, i.e. its capillary properties. Capillary rise will be much higher in clay(ey) soils
than in sand(y) soils,
- the soil water content in the root zone i.e. the difference in water content at the ground
water table (saturation) and in the root zone. The larger the difference, the larger the
upward transport of water.

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Soil water contribution (Wb)

Abundant rainfall during the wet season may bring the soil profile near or at field capacity at the
start of the growing season. The amount of water may be equivalent to one full irrigation and
hence should be deducted when determining the seasonal irrigation requirements.
Example: Calculation of seasonal net irrigation requirement of maize, considering available soil
water at the start of the season and groundwater contribution

Crop- Maize; Length of growing season-150 days; Sowing date-01/03; Soil – Sandy loam
Available soil water at the start of the season (Wb) – 25mm,
Available capillary water (Ge) – 31mm
March April May June July Total
31 days 30 days 31 days 30 days 28 days
ET0 (mm/day) 2.4 3.7 4.6 4.9 5.5
K c (-) 0.4 0.68 1.15 1.15 0.88
ETcrop (mm/day) 1.0 2.5 5.3 5.6 4.8
ETcrop (mm) 30 75 164 169 136 574
Rainfall (mm) 14 15 0 0 0
Peff (mm) 8 10 0 0 0 18
𝑊𝑏 (mm) 31
𝐺𝑒 (mm) 25
𝐼𝑛𝑒𝑡 (mm) 22 65 164 169(peak) 136
Seasonal Net irrigation requirement (mm) 500
3
Seasonal Net irrigation requirement (m /ha) 5,000

Salinity control
Accumulation of salts in the root zone is referred to as soil salinity.
Salts contained in irrigation water are left behind when water is taken up by plants or lost by
evaporation. As a result there is gradual accumulation of these salts as the season progresses and
from one year to the next year.
The level of salinity is affected by:
- the quality (salt content)
- quality of irrigation water,
- soil factors affecting drainage,
- the availability of water (rainfall) to leach the profile,
- the method of irrigation
- the prevailing cultural practices.
The leaching requirement is the minimum amount of irrigation water that must percolate below
the root zone to maintain soil salinity at a given level. The level maintained usually corresponds

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to the salinity level at which the crop would not suffer an unacceptable reduction in yield level.
The leaching requirement may be calculated by:
𝐸𝐶𝑤 1
𝐿𝑅 =
5𝐸𝐶𝑒 − 𝐸𝐶𝑤 𝐸𝑙
Where:
LR = leaching requirement, expressed as the fraction of the total seasonal volume of
irrigaton water supplied, which should be used for the leaching of salts
ECw = electric conductivity of irrigation water [dS⁄m or mmhos⁄cm]
ECe = electric conductivityof the soil saturation extract corresponding to teh yield level,
can be tolerated for the particular crop [dS⁄m or mmhos⁄cm]. Crop salt tolerance
for different crops are given in the following table
El = leaching efficiency [fraction]
Leaching efficiency is a function of soil drainage characteristics. Well drained sandy soils have El
as low as 30%. Other soils fall within this range.
Leaching of salt can be done before, during or after the irrigation season depending on when
water is available and on the salt accumulation rate.

Example: Calculation of leaching requirement

Given the following data:
Location: Marigat
Maize (season: April – August)
Soil: Sandy loam (ECl = 0.9)
Seasonal net irrigation requirement = 500 mm
𝐸𝐶𝑤 = 1 to 2.5 dS/m
Solution:
𝐹𝑜𝑟 100 % 𝑦𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑:

𝐼𝑓 𝐸𝐶𝑤 = 1 𝑑𝑆⁄𝑚 , 𝐿𝑅 = 1⁄((5 × 1.7 − 1) × 0.9) = 0.15

𝐼𝑓 𝐸𝐶𝑤 = 2.5 𝑑𝑆⁄𝑚 , 𝐿𝑅 = 2.5⁄((5 × 1.7 − 2.5) × 0.9) = 0.46

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 EECF 3142: Irrigation Engineering I

Table. Crop salt tolerance levels for different crops

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Crop irrigation requirement

The irrigation requirement of a is given by:
𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑚𝑚⁄𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛) 𝐼𝑛
=
𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (1 − 𝐿𝑅)

The net irrigation requirement of the crop is obtained by subtracting the gains of water from the
crop water requirement (𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 ):

𝐼𝑛 = 𝐸𝑇𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 − (𝑃𝑒𝑓𝑓 + 𝐺𝑒 + 𝑊𝑏 )

The gains of water include effective rainfall (𝑃𝑒𝑓𝑓 ), ground water contribution (𝐺𝑒 ) and stored soil
water (𝑊𝑏 ). All variables are expressed in units of depth of water (mm).
𝐴𝐼𝑛
The volume of water to be supplied can be obtained from: 10 𝑚3
(1 − 𝐿𝑅 )
Where A = acreage under the given crop (ha), the factor 10 appears due to conversion of mm to
m3/ha

Scheme irrigation requirement

The scheme irrigation requirement incorporates all water that is needed from the source to point
of use i.e. the root zone of the plants. Because of this, it includes the various irrigation efficiencies

Irrigation efficiencies
Water losses occur at different levels:
- at the level of the plant i.e. when applying water to the soil,
- at the level of the field i.e. after water has entered the field,
- at the level of the canals i.e. during conveyance of the water between the main scheme
inlet to the field offtake.
Water losses are normally expressed as irrigation efficiencies, whereby the concept “efficiency”
denotes that fraction of total amount of water, which will benefit the field respectively the crop.
Field application efficiency (𝑬𝒂 )
At the field level losses may occur due to deep percolation below the root zone and unwanted
drainage (runoff) of water from the field. Deep percolation almost certainly will occur as it is
nearly impossible to achieve uniform water distribution within a field and the correct rate of
water application at the crop level. Field application efficiency is defined as:
𝐸𝑎 = (𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑒)/(𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡)
𝐸𝑎 is affected by the type of the irrigation system, soil type and the skill of the farmer.
Field canal efficiency (Eb)

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The field canal efficiency is the efficiency of water conveyance in the canals within the sector,
block or sub-unit. Field canal efficiency is defined as:
𝐸𝑏 = (𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡)/(𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡)

Table. Conveyance, field canal, distribution, fields application efficiencies

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 EECF 3142: Irrigation Engineering I

Conveyance efficiency (𝑬𝒄 )

The conveyance efficiency is the efficiency of water conveyance in the (main) canal system, which
transports i.e. conveys water from the scheme head works to the various sectors, blocks or sub-
units.
Conveyance efficiency is defined as:
𝐸𝑐 = (𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑖𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑡)/(𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠)
Distribution efficiency (𝑬𝒅 )
The distribution efficiency is the efficiency of water conveyance and distribution between the
head (inlet) of the scheme and the farm or field offtake (turn-out/inlet). It covers all the losses
inherent to the ‘transport’ of the water and is a function of layout of the system, water transport
type (canals, pipes), nature of the canal bed, soil type, maintenance, irrigation method and
scheme management. Ed is independent of crop type and crop.
𝐸𝑑 = 𝐸𝑐 × 𝐸𝑏
Scheme efficiency (𝑬𝒑 )

The overall, scheme or project efficiency can be defined as:

𝐸𝑝 = (𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑒)/(𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠)

The scheme efficiency can be calculated as:

𝐸𝑝 = 𝐸𝑎 × 𝐸𝑏 × 𝐸𝑐

Irrigation efficiencies must be established through research i.e. monitoring of irrigation in the
field. Not always such studies are or have been carried out, or adjustments in locally established
values are necessary due to lining of the canals or improved performance of the farmers due to
longer irrigation practice. If no values are locally available, use could be made of the previous
table for an estimation of efficiencies.

Scheme water requirement

Seasonal requirement
Once the cropping pattern and intensity have been selected, the gross irrigation requirement of
the scheme is obtained by adding up the individual irrigation requirements of each of the crops:
𝑁
10 𝐴𝑖 𝐼𝑛,𝑖
𝑉= ∑
𝐸𝑝 (1 − 𝐿𝑅𝑖 )
𝑖=1

Where:
𝐸𝑝 = 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦

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 EECF 3142: Irrigation Engineering I

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑝 𝑖 = 1 𝑡𝑜 𝑁
𝐴 = 𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 (ℎ𝑎)
𝐼𝑛 = 𝑁𝑒𝑡 𝑖𝑟𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑚𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛)
𝐿𝑅 = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

Example: Yearly water supply requirement of a scheme

Project: 150 ha
Cropping intensity: 200%
Short rains: wheat (Area=150 ha, In = 82 mm, LR = 0)
Long rains: maize (Area=90 ha, In = 500 mm, LR = 0.15)
Cotton (Area=650 ha, In = 650 mm, LR = 0.07)
Surface irrigation, rotational supply to irrigation blocks of 20 ha, lined canal (Ep = 0.50)
For each crop:

𝑀𝑎𝑖𝑧𝑒 (10⁄0.5) × (90 × 500)⁄(1 − 0.15) = 1,058,824 𝑚3

𝐶𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑛 (10⁄0.5) × (60 × 650)⁄(1 − 0.07) = 838,710 𝑚3
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑡 (10⁄0.5) × (150 × 82) = 246,000 𝑚3
The yearly supply requirement is the sum of individual crop water supply requirements

𝑽 = 𝟏, 𝟎𝟓𝟖, 𝟖𝟐𝟒 + 𝟖𝟑𝟖, 𝟕𝟏𝟎 + 𝟐𝟒𝟔, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 = 𝟐, 𝟏𝟒𝟑, 𝟓𝟑𝟒 𝒎𝟑

NB: the monthly water supply requirements can be determined in the same manner

Peak supply
For a first estimate on the capacity of engineering works, the peak supply can be based on project
supply of the month of highest irrigation demands:
𝑁
10
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐶 ∑(𝐴𝑖 𝐼𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘, 𝑖 )
𝐸𝑝
𝑖=1

Where:
C = flexibility factor
Ipeak = net irrigation requirement during peak month

To incorporate flexibility in the delivery capacity of the supply system as well as to allow for future
intensification and diversification of crop production, a flexibility factor C is frequently added. This
factor varies with the type of project and is generally higher for small schemes as compared to large
schemes. With monocultures such as orchards a