Types of flow of irrigation depending on the source of water

1. Direct irrigation or river canal irrigation:

• Water is diverted to the canal without attempting to store the water.
• A low diversion weir or diversion barrage is constructed across the river.
• This rises the water level in the river and thus diverts the water to the canal taking off the weir.
• Is of smaller magnitude since there are no rigid controls over the supplies.

2. Storage Irrigation or tank irrigation system:

• A solid barrage such as dam or a storage weir is constructed across the river and water is stored in the reservoir at lake so formed.
• Depending on the water requirement of crop and flow of water, the volume of storage is decided.
• Storage scheme is of bigger magnitude and involves much more expenditure than a direct scheme.
• A network of canal system convey water to the agricultural fields through various regulatory works.

3. Combined irrigation system (Direct + Storage):

• For hydro electricity generation and for irrigation.
• Well length = 126 m, Main Channel = 1426 m and discharge = 10.5 m³/sec.

4. Hill Irrigation system:

• Some examples of this system are as follows: