Drawing on almost 40 years of experience of irrigation in the developing world, Laycock introduces new ideas on the design of irrigation systems and combines important issues from the disciplines of social conflict, management, and political thinking.

Designed to appeal to all those involved in planning, managing and operating irrigation systems, this book will interest engineers, technicians, agriculturalists, economists, students and policy makers.

CHAPTER 1 EVOLUTION AND A PRELUDE TO CHANGE

1.1 A World of Canals

1.2 The Importance of Small Canals

1.3 All- purpose Canals

1.4 Pipelines- why and when

1.5 Evolution of Irrigation Systems

1.6 Aid, Finance and Politics

Historical

Colonial

Post-colonial

Socialist economic decree

The European Union

Oil wealth

Developed countries

Private development and self-help

Commercial schemes

Virtual water and self-sufficiency

1.7 We have an Attitude Problem

1.8 Prelude to Change

References and further reading for chapter 1

PART 1 - PLANNING

CHAPTER 2 ELEMENTS OF IRRIGATION

2.1 What can irrigation do?

2.2 Productive, Partial and Protective Irrigation

The Upper Swat Canal, evolution from protective to productive

Deficit irrigation - the strange case of Albania

2.3 Equity and Equality

2.4 Sustainability

2.5 Guaranteed Flow

2.6 The Downside- tragic environmental side effects

References and further reading for chapter 2

CHAPTER 3 WATER MANAGEMENT

3.1 Levels of Water Management

Level 0 - Bulk issues

Levels 1 and 2 - Main system

Level 3 - Distribution

Level 4 - Watercourses, blocks and farm groups

3.2 Delivery Scheduling

3.3 Uncontrolled continuous flow

Basin flooding of paddy rice

The Talli project - wild flooding

Controlled wild flooding on the Rufiji

The Gezira project flows continuously against the rules

Proportional flow

3.4 Supply scheduling

Rotation

Pivot points

Warabandi

Shejpali

Indenting

3.5 Flexibility

3.6 Demand Scheduling

Water on demand

Arranged scheduling

Semi-demand, arranged scheduling

Limited rate, arranged scheduling

3.7 Intermittent Flow

Response time

Filling time

Absorption

Health

3.8 Institutional Management

Line management

Unit management

Authority and assistance - conflicting roles of water managers

Farmer participation in management

Privatisation

3.9 Water Charges

By volume

By area

By crop

By time

By number of irrigations

By season

By manipulation of controlled prices

By forfeit of crop

Free water

Education

References and further reading for chapter 3

CHAPTER 4 CANAL OPERATION & AUTOMATION

4.1 How Water Flows

4.2 Canal Sensitivity and Response Time

4.3 Modes of Control

Upstream control

Downstream control

Mixed control

Constant volume control

Centralised control

4.4 Intermediate Storage

Storage ponds

Night storage canals

Night storage vs. night irrigation

Level-top canals

Related level control

Operational spillage

Conjunctive use of groundwater

Low-pressure pipelines

4.5 Gate Operation

Manual gate operation

Powered or motorised gate operation

Gate self-operation

4.6 Gate Control

Manual control

Refusal gates

Remote control and configuration

SCADA

4.7 Why Automation

Automation to save labour

Automation for easier operation

Automation and control

Partial Automation

4.8 Passive Automation

Long-crested weirs

Self-regulating float-operated gates for constant water level

Hunting and transients

Counterweighted gates for upstream control

Proportional dividers

Flumed outlets for proportional discharge