Design of an irrigated perimeter using a Californian network: Hydraulic sizing, calculation methods and water rotation organization

In Niger, thermal pumping systems are widely used by producers with large motor pumps. Water is distributed through earthen pipelines via settling basins. Water distribution efficiency remains very low, below 50%, due to water losses.The cost of pumping alone represents more than half of the total cost of irrigation. The Californian irrigation system is a low-cost irrigation alternative, both in terms of investment and operation, and is very well suited to small producers.This article presents a hydraulic sizing study for a Californian-style irrigation network in a Sahelian region of Niger. Once designed, this network will be supplied by borehole water through eight storage basins. This study outlines calculation methods for several key hydraulic parameters in the design and provides an estimate of crop water requirements using CROPWAT.