2014

DESIGN OF IRRIGATION
CANAL SCHEME
RASHID KAMRAN
BSCE-01103108
Section (B)

Civil Engineering Department

The University of Lahore

CHAPTER: 1
: Introduction:

1.1Irrigation:
Irrigation is the man-made supply of water to the land to encourage vegetation. It is a substitute for
inadequate or erratic rainfall and is extremely essential for arid regions where there are no rivers and also
in humid regions to improve crop output. In Pakistan, 75% of the agricultural land is under irrigation.
Three major water sources in Pakistan are rain water, ground water and rivers.

1.2 Irrigation System:

A land area, together with the network of canals and other hydraulic-engineering and operating
structures that ensure its irrigation.
In addition to the land, systems for regular irrigation include a main water-intake unit, which
draws water from a source (river, reservoir, canal, or well) and protects the system from debris,
slush, and trash; an irrigation network; a runoff network; a collector-drainage network, which
lowers the level of groundwater and carries water and salts away from the territory being
irrigated; hydraulic-engineering structures, which regulate water intake (regulator sluices, waterlifting structures, and so on) and its distribution over the area being irrigated; operating
structures, such as roads and devices for observing the condition of the land being irrigated; and
wooded strips.
Irrigation systems may have gravity-flow water intake, in which the water enters the canals from
the source under natural flow, or systems with mechanical water-lifting, in which the water is
supplied by a pumping station.

1.3 Irrigation System of Pakistan:

Pakistan is basically a dry country with the River Indus and its tributaries being the main source
of water supply. Dams both large and small and barrages have been built on the Indus and its
tributaries. Large dams such as Tarbela Dam and Mangla Dam are multipurpose projects which

not only store water, irrigate lands but also generate hydro-electricity. Small dams like Khanpur
Dam, Rawal Dam and Hub Dam supply water for agriculture, industrial and domestic purpose
and act as a reservoir as well. A hilly terrain is required to build a dam. Barrages on the other
hand are built on flat surfaces they also supply water for irrigation purpose and industrial and
domestic use. Some barrages are Sukkur Barrage, Guddu Barrage, Kotri Barrage, and Chashma
Barrage.
Canals are taken out from rivers, dams and barrages. Pakistan has one of the largest canal
irrigation systems in the world. The Inundation canals are taken from rivers and they receive
water only when the water level in the rivers is high such as during floods. The perennial canals
are taken from dams and barrages and supply water to the fields throughout the year. In Pakistan
there are 3 large dams, 85 small dams, 19 barrages, 12 inter link canals, 45 canals and 0.7 million
tube wells to meet the commercial, domestic and irrigational needs of the country.

1.4 Sources of Irrigation Water:

Sources of irrigation water can be groundwater extracted from springs or by using wells, surface
water withdrawn from rivers, lakes or reservoirs or non-conventional sources like treated
wastewater, desalinated water or drainage water.
A special form of irrigation using surface water is spate irrigation, also called floodwater
harvesting. In case of flood (spate) water is a diverted to normally dry river bed (wadis) using a
network of dams, gates and channels and spread over large areas. The moisture stored in the soil
will be used thereafter to grow crops. Spate irrigation areas are in particular located in semi-arid
or arid, mountainous regions.

1.5 Types of Irrigation

There are various types of irrigation techniques differ in how the water obtained from the source
is distributed within the field. Which are;

Surface irrigation

In surface irrigation systems, water moves over and across the land by simple gravity flow in
order to wet it and to infiltrate into the soil. Surface irrigation can be subdivided into furrow,
border strip or basin irrigation. It is often called flood irrigation when the irrigation results in
flooding or near flooding of the cultivated land.

Localized irrigation

Localized irrigation is a system where water is distributed under low pressure through a piped
network, in a pre-determined pattern, and applied as a small discharge to each plant or adjacent
to it. Drip irrigation, spray or micro-sprinkler irrigation and bubbler irrigation belong to this
category of irrigation methods.
a. Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation, also known as trickle irrigation, functions as its name suggests. In this system
waterfalls drop by drop just at the position of roots. Water is delivered at or near the root zone of
plants, drop by drop. This method can be the most water-efficient method of irrigation,if
managed properly, since evaporation and runoff are minimized.
b. Sprinkler Irrigation
In sprinkler or overhead irrigation, water is piped to one or more central locations within the
field and distributed by overhead high-pressure sprinklers or guns. A system utilizing sprinklers,
sprays, or guns mounted overhead on permanently installed risers is often referred to as a solidset irrigation system. Higher pressure sprinklers that rotate are called rotors and are driven by a
ball drive, gear drive, or impact mechanism. Rotors can be designed to rotate in a full or partial
circle.

1.6 Benefits of Irrigation:

1.6.1 Major benefits:
Major benefits of irrigation include:
i.

Increased agricultural production

Increased crop productivity

Expansion in crop areas

Increase in cropping intensity

Increase in crop diversification

ii.

Increased commercial fish production (in-land fisheries)

iii.

Increased benefits of water use in industrial, commercial and residential sectorsfrom raw
water provided through irrigation infrastructure or from groundwater

iv.

Increased environmental benefits of water for in-stream flows, disposal of waste, wildlife,
flora and fauna; increased farm forestry and vegetation in irrigated areas.

v.

Increased health benefitsimproved sanitation due to better access to water.

vi.

Other direct positive impacts

Increased benefits from flood control

Increased benefits from water use for rural domestic and livestock purposes

Increased groundwater recharge; reduction in opportunity costs of water uses

Increased recreation from water bodies, sightseeing, fishing

1.6.2
i.

Secondary benefits of Irrigation

Increased employment in agriculture due to increased cropping intensity, increased crop area
and output from irrigation

ii.

Increased employment outside agriculture from increased crop output in related industries
such as input industry (backward linkages) and output processing industries (forward
linkages)

iii.

Positive impact on poverty reduction through increased productivity and increased

employment opportunities

iv.

Increased food security at national, regional and local levels

v.

Lower food prices for consumers, due to productivity gains and increased overall food
supplies

vi.

Improved nutrition, improved calorie intake and improved health

1.7 Planning and Design of Surface Irrigation System:

Following two steps are taken for planning and design surface irrigation system.
1.7.1

Identification of Area:

First of all find out GCA,CCA and NCCA after that boundary is developed.CCA is divided into
smaller blocks called chakbandi.In CCA its not necessary to supply water to whole area it is the
smallest unit which is focus as well as irrigation system is concerned each portion of CCA has its
own management system.

i.

Alignment of Irrigation System

This portion is divided into two parts

a) Alignment of canal
b) Alignment of water course
a) Alignment of canal:
For best possible alignment canal should run along the ridge line and valley i.e. at higher
elevation compare to the whole area. The reason is that water can flow under gravity we prepare
that area where cut and fill in balanced position.
Then by contour map we mark possible allignment for canal then economic analysis is done
considering different parameters i.e. water is under gravity, drainage works. Canal should not
pass near the areas which are already irrigated by other means. Main branch canal should not
irrigate a land directly. Length of canal should be minimum no curvature should be provided.
b) Alignment of water course:
Field channel also called water course or khaal. They should economically irrigate the area with
minimum losses. Minimum length irrigate by water course is called tertiary level of distribution
of water each and every water course is aligned within a chak.Chaks are further divided into
smaller boxes called square. Water course is aligned within each square in the outlet command
area. A water course should irrigate both sides of square this is done to avoid adsorption losses.
1.7.2 Identification of Crops:
i.

To decide cropping pattern of areas

ii.

To decide about the cropping intensity or cultivation intensity

iii.

Crop water requirement

i.

Cropping Pattern of Areas:

It is defined as different kinds of crops which are being cultivated over a particular area its
basically used to decide which type of crop you are cultivated. If you dont know which type of
crop should be cultivated then crop pattern is done there are several steps to decide the cropping
pattern.

Climate of the area

Soil characteristics

Hydrology( rain fall pattern)

Water allowance

Now experts are trying to know about croppingpatternoptimization keeping in mind the
available and the crop water demand.
ii-

Cropping Intensity

It is the percentage of area over which particular crop is cultivatedw.r.t total CCA.
iii-

Crop Water Requirement

The total quantity of water, a crop requires at different intervals of time from pre-sowing to harvesting is
called the crop water requirement of that crop. Different crops will have different water requirements
dependingon climate, type of soil, method of cultivation, useful rainfall, etc. Crop water
requirement is defined as the depth of water needed to meet thewater loss through
evapotranspiration of a disease free crop growing in large fields under non restricting soil
conditions including soilwater and fertility and achieving full production potential under
growingconditions.
a) Methods to find Crop Water Requirement

Direct method/field method

Empirical method

Pan evaporation method

b)

Factor Affecting Water Requirement of Crop

1. Texture and structure of the soil and its moisture storage capacity
2. Position of ground water table
3. Slope of the ground
4. Drainage conditions
5. Climate condition like rainfall, temperature, wind movement and relative humidity
6. The system of irrigation adopted
7. Intensity of irrigation

8. Type and amount of manure supplied to fields

1.8 Crop Season:

There are two crop season in Pakistan
i.

Rabi season

ii.

Kharif season

Rabi season
Rabi crops are sowing during autumn and harvested in spring
Kharif season
Kharif crops are sowing in monsoon period and harvested in autumn.

1.9 Important Definitions:

Water Requirement

It is the water required by a crop to mature it from the time of sowing to the time of harvesting.
The water requirement of a particular crop doesnot remain uniform in different areas.It varies
according to variation in climate,rainfall and type of soil. Water requirement of a particular crop
in a particular region cannot be considered applicable for all areas.

Optimum use of water:

The quantity of water supplied to a particular crop during is growth period,which results in the
maximum yield of the crop is known as optimum water requirement.

Cultivable Command Area (CCA):

The area which can be irrigated from a scheme and is fit for cultivation.
CCA =GCA-NCCA
Normally CCA is 75-80% of GCA.

Gross Irrigated Area:

It is the area enclosed between the imaginary boundaryline up to which any irrigation channel
capable of supplying water for irrigation purpose.

Base Period:

It is the time normally in days for which a crop occupies a field to attain its full maturity.
This time is counted from the day when irrigation water us first issued to the field for
preparing it for sowing the crop, to the last watering before crop is harvested.

Crop Period:

The time period between sowing and harvesting is called Crop Period.The time between first
watering to a crop at its sowing to its last watering before harvesting is called Base Period.

Delta:

The total depth of water required by a crop from sowing to maturity iscalled its delta.

Duty of Water

The duty of water is the relationship between the volume of water andarea under crop matured.
Total volume = Discharge Base period

Water Allowance:

Water allowance is defined as antonymous of duty and is expressed in cusec/1000 acres or

in cumecs/100 ha. At outlet head, distributary head or main canal head as the case may be. Water
allowance is fixed on canal basis but some time water allowance is also fixed on region basis,
taking into account all the variable factors for cropping pattern on that canal or region.

CHAPTER: 2
: Methodology of Irrigation System:

2.1 design of irrigation System:

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

Decide the cropping pattern of the area

Based on the given cropping pattern, estimate the crop water requirement
Estimate the design discharge
Estimate outlet command area and number of outlets

Cropping area = total CCA* cropping intensity

Volume of water = cropping area* delta

Design discharge for Rabi:

Qr = Vr*43560/Rabi period

Discharge of kharif:
Qr = Vk*43560/kharif period

Water Allowance
W.A = Qd*1000/ CCA

Outlet Command Area

Qoutlet = W.A *CCA/ 1000

Minimum Number of outlet

Min no. = CCA/CCA of outlet
Qs = 30%of Q outlet
Qt = Q outlet + Qs

2.2 Plantation of Irrigation Scheme:

Plantation of irrigation scheme on graph includes:
i.
ii.

plantation of contour map on a large sheet

Show the alignment of the canal

iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.

Divide the CCA into outlet CCA

Marks designation of outlet
Write area allocated to each outlet
Mark canal reaches
Mark the running distance for the canal

2.3 Discharge or Capacity Statement for all canal scheme;

iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

A canal reach is the distance b/w AB, CD and so on

A discharge in each reach can be found out
To make the discharge statement it is start with tail reach for any canal
Discharge statement for the canal should be made first

2.4 Design of outlet, canal Reaches and Water Course:

i.

Design of Outlet

We use open flume outlet

Q=C*W*H3/2
Where
C=3
W = 0.5
H = head 0f water over crest
ii.

iii.

Design of Canal in Reaches

First find wetted perimeter of canal
Find side slope of the canal
Find hydraulic radius R
Find equation b/w B & D and determine the relation between them
Pw =2.667 Q
S=f5/3 /1844Q
f= 1.76d
R= A/P
V = (1.436*R3/4 * S1/2)/n
R= A/P
A = BD+ZD2
Z horizontal slop2/3
Design of Water Course

Design based on the mannings formula

Q = (1.49*R2/3*S1/2)/n

CHAPTER: 3
: Calculation of Irrigation Scheme Design:

For Rabi Season

Crop

Crop
Period
(days)

Cropping
Delta
intensity
(in)
(%)

Wheat
Gram
Oilsead

130
110
150

40
35
25

15
12
18

Volume
Cropped
of
area
water
(acr)
(act-ft)
4120
5150
3605
3605
2575
3862.5
12617.5

For kharif Season

Crop

Crop
Period
(days)

Cropping
Delta
intensity
(in)
(%)

wheat
Gram
Oilsead

120
155
185

30
28
42

15
12
18

3.1 Proposed Cropping Pattern:

Design discharge for Rabi:
Q = (12617.5*43560)/183*24*3600
Q = 34.59ft3/s
Discharge for kharif:
Q= (13235.5*43560)/183*24*3600
Q =36.46 ft3/s

Volume
Cropped
of
area
water
(acr)
(act-ft)
3090
3862.5
2884
2884
4326
6489
13235.5

Water Allowance:

W.A= (36.46*1000)/4960
W.A 7.35 cuses/1000 acs
Outlet Command Area:
Let Q outlet = 3 cuses
Q = (W.A * CCA)/1000
3 = (7.35*CCA)/1000
CCA outlet =410 acr
Minimum number of Outlets:
# = (CCA)/CCA of outlet
Min # outlet = (4960)/410 = 12
3.2 Discharge at Each Outlet:
Q outlet = 30 % of Q
Qt =Qoutlet + Qs

1
2

RD of
outlets
Ft
0+000
1+000

3
4
5

2+500
3+400
0+000

L
L
R

L3
L4
R1

450
400
495

0
0
0

450
400
495

3.15
2.8
3.465

0.945
0.84
1.0395

4.095
3.64
4.5045

1+000

R2

495

495

3.465

1.0395

4.5045

2+500

R3

495

495

3.465

1.0395

4.5045

8
9

3+900
4+900

R
R

R4
R5

495
400

0
0

495
400

3.465
2.8

1.0395
0.84

4.5045
3.64

10
11

0+700
1+900

L
L

ML1L1
ML1L2

300
400

0
0

300
400

2.1
2.8

0.63
0.84

2.73
3.64

12

1+900

ML1R1

430

430

3.01

0.903

3.913

Total Qtotal

45.36

Sr#

Side

Designation

G.C.A

N.C.C.A

C.C.A

L
L

L1
L2

acres
300
300

acres
0
0

acres
300
300

Q
Qtotal
seepage(30%)
ft3/sec
ft3/sec
ft3/sec
2.1
0.63
2.73
2.1
0.63
2.73
Q out

3.3 Discharge Statement

Sr#

Canal
Reach

Lengt
h of
canal
reach

outlet/mi
nor
designatio
n

RD of
outlet
in
reach
es

Qoutlet

Qtotal
in
reach

ft3/sec

ft3/sec

ft3/sec

2.445
2.418
2.109

10.595
10.478
9.139

10.595
21.073
30.212
39.916
5
52.558
35
63.543
35
72.994
35
83.255
25
90.795
25
96.651
1
100.20
01
110.48
9
114.03
8

1
2
3

LM
KL
JK

700
500
900

ML2
ML1
L6

4+900
3+400

IJ

1500

R5

2+500

4.095

3.37

7.465

2.2395

9.7045

HI

1500

R4

2+500

5.22

4.504
5

9.724
5

2.91735

12.641
85

GH

900

R3

4.46

3.99

8.45

2.535

10.985

FG

1200

R2

1+900

3.64

3.63

7.27

2.181

9.451

EF

1200

R1

1+900

3.98

3.913

7.893

2.3679

10.260
9

DE

700

L5

0+700

2.73

3.07

5.8

1.74

7.54

10

CD

1000

L4

1+000

4.504
5

4.504
5

1.35135

5.8558
5

11

BC

L3

1+000

2.73

2.73

0.819

3.549

12

AB

L2

0+000

3.41

4.504
5

7.914
5

2.37435

10.288
85

L1

0+000

2.73

2.73

0.819

3.549

3.4 Design of Outlet

We use open flume outlet
q = C*W*H3/2
For L1
C= 3
W = 0.5
q = 2.73

Total
ft3/s
ec
8.15
8.06
7.03

Q in
reach

L
ft3/s
ec
4.17
4.42
3.64

ft

R
ft3/s
ec
3.98
3.64
3.39

Qseepage(
30 %)

2.73 = 3*0.5*H3/2
H = 1.49 ft
Sr #

RD/ designation

Qt

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

L1
L2
L3
L4
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
ML1L1
ML1L2
ML1R1

2.73
2.73
4.095
3.64
4.5045
4.5045
4.5045
4.5045
3.64
2.73
3.64
3.913

1.493647
1.493647
1.959878
1.81116
2.089114
2.089114
2.089114
2.089114
1.81116
1.493647
1.81116
1.90108

3.5 Design of Canal Reaches:

For reach start:

Pw = 2.667Qt
Pw = 2.667(110.45)1/2
=28.028 ft
f = 1.76 d
=1.76 *(0.22)1/2
= 0.825
S = f5/3/(1844Q1/6)
= (0.825)5/3 / (1844*(110.45)0.6)
=0.000179
Hydraulic Radius

V= (1.346*R3/4 * S1/2)/n
V= (1.346*R3/4 *0.0001791/2)/(0.214)

=0.096R3/4.(1)

V= 1.1547(fS)1/2
=1.1547(0.9216S)
Comparing (1) & (2)

= 1.094S1/2.(2)

R = [0.01667/S1/2]4
R =2.42 ft

To develop a quadratic equation Between B and D

R=A/P
A= BD+ZD2
67.83=BD+1.5D2 .. (3)
P=B +2 (slope) D
P = B +3.6D
28.03=B +3.6D.. (4)
B=28.03-3.6D

put in (3)

67.83=28.02D-3.6D2+ 1.5D2
Simplified the above equation gives
2.1D2 -28.02D +67.83=0
Solve the above equation and get
D= 12.22 and 3.17

select D= 3.317ft

Then B= 7.16ft
Let B/D = 2.158
D = 28.03/(2.158+1.5)

=3.317ft

B = xD
=2.158 *3.317 = 7.17ft
For rest of the reaches, fix B/D as 2.158

Sr#

Canal
Reach

Breach
Discharge

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

LM
KL
JK
IJ
HI
GH
FG
EF
DE
CD
BC
AB

0
19.59
21.07
30.212
39.91
52.55
63.54
72.99
83.25
96.65
100.2
110.45

0
0.000239
0.000236
0.000223
0.000212
0.000203
0.000197
0.000192
0.000188
0.000183
0.000182
0.000179

0
1.358223
1.391667
1.569681
1.722633
1.888438
2.012099
2.10747
2.202114
2.314669
2.342725
2.420187

0
11.8043
12.24208
14.65928
16.8486
19.33345
21.25919
22.7853
24.33409
26.21947
26.69666
28.02889

0
16.03286978
17.03690761
23.01040319
29.02396265
36.51003038
42.7755812
48.01934047
53.58645206
60.6894072
62.54293031
67.83514477

2.3
2.294
2.383
2.507
2.534
2.769
2.862
2.956
3.068
3.098
3.177

18.6
10.32
10.3416
10.0212
9.5748
9.4776
8.6316
8.2968
7.9584
7.5552
7.4472
7.1628

3.6 Design of Water Course:

Sr #

Outlet Designation

Outlet Discharge

L1

2.73

L2

2.73

2.3

10.32

L3

4.095

2.294

10.3416

L4

3.64

2.383

10.0212

R1

4.5045

2.507

9.5748

R2

4.5045

2.534

9.4776

R3

4.5045

2.769

8.6316

R4

4.5045

2.862

8.2968

R5

3.64

2.956

7.9584

10

ML1L1

2.73

3.068

7.5552

11

ML1L2

3.64

3.098

7.4472

12

ML1R1

3.913

3.177

7.1628

3.7 Design of Vertical Drop

Design a 1.5m fall for a canal having a discharge of 12 cumes with the following data

u/s bed level = 103.0m

side slopes of canal = 1:1
D/s bed level = 101.5m
F.S.L U/S = 104.5m
Bed width at U/S and D/S = 10m
C =7.5

Solution:

Length of crest
Same as d/s bed width =10m

Crest level
Q= 1.84*L*(H)3/2 *(H/B)1/6
12= 1.84*10*H3/2 *(H/0.8)1/6
H= 0.76m

Shape of Crest
B=0.55(d)0.5
d= 103.77 101.5 = 2.27m
B = 0.55(2.27)05
B =0.825 >0.8 ok
Thickness at base = (h+d)/S
= (0.755 - 0.025) + 2.27 /2
= 1.5m
Design of Cistern
Depth = x = 0.25(H.H)2/3
= 0.25*(0.76*1.5)2/3
= 0.3 m
Length = 5(H.H)0.5
= 5.5m
Length of Impervious Floor
According to Blighs theory
h/l1/c
h=head causing seepage
h=CL-D/S Bed Level
h=103.77-101.5=2.27m

Minimum creep length=say

Minimum length of impervious floor
L=h*c
L=2.27*7.5
Minimum length of D/S floor
=17.025m
=2 (water depth+1.2) + H f
=say 17.1m
=2(1.5+1.2)+1.5= 6.9m= say 7m

CHAPTER: 4

:Results and Recommendation:

4.1 Result
GCA=6000 acres
CCA=4960 acres
Main canal=1
Total outlets=12 outlets
Q max=54.242 ft3/sec
For Canal Reaches
Pw=28.08 ft
X=2.158
D=3.317 ft
B=7.16 ft
4.2 Recommendations
Improving irrigation system performance is now perceived as a more pressing need than
developing new irrigated areas, after large budgetary allocations have gone for decades into
expanding irrigated acreage. The irrigation system represents a significant engineering
achievement and provide water to the fields that account for 90 percent of agriculture production.

Water measurement is a basic requirement for improving the operation of any irrigation
system. In fact, developing and updating the discharge rating for each essential flow
control structure in a system should be standard operating procedure.
Proper communication facilities are one of the more cost-effective measure for improving
the performance of an irrigation system.
Canal design should be such that there should be least siltation if siltation occurs clear the
slit at the spring and improve the lining in the main canal, gates to control water delivery
should be properly installed.
The most important component, however, is organized in an effective manner, frames
will demand equitable water distribution.