"Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years."
The process of applying water to crops to ensure proper growth and yield in areas with low rainfall.
Irrigation systems: This involves the techniques and methods used for delivering water to crops, including flood, sprinkler, drip, and center pivot irrigation.
Water resources: Understanding the sources of water for irrigation and the various methods for capturing, storing, and distributing water.
Soil moisture and management: Knowing how to manage soil moisture levels is essential for ensuring proper plant growth and effective irrigation.
Crop selection and management: Understanding the crop requirements and how to manage crops based on their individual needs.
Weather patterns: Understanding the effects of weather patterns on irrigation and crop growth.
Water quality: Knowing the effects of water quality on crop growth and irrigation system effectiveness.
System maintenance: Regular maintenance of the irrigation system, including repair and replacement of damaged equipment, is crucial for long-term success.
Pest and disease management: Irrigation systems can promote pest and disease growth, so knowing how to manage them is essential.
Sustainability: Strategies for sustainable irrigation practices, including water conservation and reducing environmental impacts.
Government regulations: Complying with local, state, and federal regulations regarding rights to use water for irrigation and best practices for irrigation systems.
Surface Irrigation: This method involves flooding the crop area with water from a nearby source, such as a river or canal. The water is allowed to soak into the soil and reach plant roots.
Drip Irrigation: In this method, water is applied directly to the root zone of plants using a network of small tubes and emitters. This can save water and is often used in areas with limited water resources.
Sprinkler Irrigation: This method uses mechanical devices, such as sprinklers, to apply water to crops. The water is distributed through the air, and the plants receive water droplets from above.
Center Pivot Irrigation: This technique involves a large sprinkler system, which rotates around a central pivot point and delivers water to crops in a circular pattern. This method is often used on large farm fields.
Subsurface Irrigation: In this method, water is applied directly to the root zone of plants through underground piping. This technique reduces water loss due to evaporation and runoff.
Micro-irrigation: Micro-irrigation uses small, low-pressure sprayers or drippers to deliver water to crops. This technique is highly efficient in water conservation and can be used on small or large agricultural areas.
Conservation Tillage: Conservation tillage is a method that reduces the amount of water needed for cultivation by leaving crop residue on the soil surface. This technique controls erosion and retains moisture in the soil.
Furrow Irrigation: This technique runs water through small channels or furrows within the soil. It enables water to flow directly to the root zone of plants and is often used on crops like corn or wheat.
"Irrigation helps to grow crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during times of below-average rainfall."
"Irrigation is also employed to protect crops from frost, suppress weed growth in grain fields, and prevent soil consolidation."
"It is also used to cool livestock, reduce dust, dispose of sewage, and support mining operations."
"Drainage, which involves the removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given location, is often studied in conjunction with irrigation."
"There are several methods of irrigation that differ in how water is supplied to plants."
"Surface irrigation, also known as gravity irrigation, is the oldest form of irrigation and has been in use for thousands of years."
"In sprinkler irrigation, water is piped to one or more central locations within the field and distributed by overhead high-pressure water devices."
"Micro-irrigation is a system that distributes water under low pressure through a piped network and applies it as a small discharge to each plant."
"Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone of plants."
"Subirrigation has been used in field crops in areas with high water tables for many years. It involves artificially raising the water table to moisten the soil below the root zone of plants."
"Irrigation water can come from groundwater (extracted from springs or by using wells), from surface water (withdrawn from rivers, lakes or reservoirs) or from non-conventional sources like treated wastewater, desalinated water, drainage water, or fog collection."
"Rainfed agriculture is common in many parts of the world and refers to when irrigation is supplementary to rainfall."
"Full irrigation is less common and only occurs in arid landscapes with very low rainfall or when crops are grown in semi-arid areas outside of rainy seasons."
"The environmental effects of irrigation relate to the changes in quantity and quality of soil and water as a result of irrigation and the subsequent effects on natural and social conditions in river basins and downstream of an irrigation scheme."
"Depletion of underground aquifers through overdrafting."
"Soil can be over-irrigated due to poor distribution uniformity or management wastes water, chemicals, and may lead to water pollution."
"Over-irrigation can cause deep drainage from rising water tables that can lead to problems of irrigation salinity requiring watertable control by some form of subsurface land drainage."
"Irrigation has been developed by many cultures around the world."
"Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been developed by many cultures around the world."