Guidelines on spate irrigation
By: by Frank van Steenbergen ... [et al.].
Contributors: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Series: FAO irrigation and drainage paper -- 65; FAO irrigation and drainage paper -- 65.
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Rome
Language: eng
Number of pages: 233
ISBN-13: 9789251066089
Subjects: Floodplain agriculture; Irrigation farming; Arid regions agriculture
Description: Spate irrigation is an ancient practice by which floodwater is diverted from its river bed and channeled to basins.  It has evolved over the centuries and provided rural populations in arid and semi-arid regions with an ingenious way to manage their scarce water resources.  Different from conventional irrigation in many ways, it needs special skills and approaches that address the unpredictability and magnitude of spate floods and their high sediment load.  The objective of this publication is to assist planners and practitioners in designing and managing spate irrigation projects looking at the hydrology, the engineering, the agronomy, the economics and local organization and rules.  It is designed to be both a practical guidance document and a source of information and examples, based on experience from across the world in places where spate irrigation is practiced.--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Also freely available online.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: The social setting; title: Hydrology and sediment transport; title: Water diversion and control structures; title: Soil and field water management; title: Agricultural practices and extension services; title: Water rights and water distribution rules; title: Management arrangements; title: Economics of spate irrigation; title: Spate irrigation in the context of river basin resource management; title: Recommendations for interventions in spate irrigation.