What are Irrigation Systems and Their Importance?
The irrigation system is the agricultural method
to apply water to crops artificially to fulfil their water requirements, as
well as to grow lawns and landscape plants.
Irrigation
supports to grow to maintain landscapes, agricultural crops and revegetating
disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall.
Irrigation also has other uses in crop production, including frost protection,
suppressing weed growth in grain fields and preventing soil consolidation. Irrigation
systems are also used for cooling livestock, dust suppression, disposal of
sewage, and in mining. Irrigation is often studied together with drainage,
which is the removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given location.
Types of Irrigation
- ·
Surface Irrigation
- ·
Localized
Irrigation
- ·
Sprinkler
Irrigation
- ·
Drip Irrigation
- ·
Centre Pivot
Irrigation
- · Subsurface Irrigation
There are several methods of irrigation practised for improving crop yield. These kinds of irrigation systems are practised based on the different types of soils, climates, crops and resources. They vary in how the water is supplied to the plants. The goal is to apply the water to the plants as uniformly as possible, so that each plant has the amount of water it needs, neither too much nor too little. Irrigation can also be understood whether it is supplementary to rainfall as happens in many parts of the world, or whether it is 'full irrigation' whereby crops rarely depend on any contribution from rainfall. Full irrigation is less common and only happens in arid landscapes experiencing very low rainfall or when crops are grown in semi-arid areas outside of any rainy seasons.
Methods of Irrigation
- ·
Traditional
Methods
- ·
Modern Methods
- ·
Sprinkler System
- · Drip System
Surface Irrigation
In
this system, no irrigation pump is involved. Water is distributed across the
land by gravity. Surface irrigation, also
known as gravity irrigation, is the oldest form of irrigation and has been in
use for thousands of years. In surface (furrow, flood, or level basin)
irrigation systems, water moves across the surface of agricultural lands, in
order to wet it and infiltrate into the soil. Water moves by following gravity
or the slope of the land. Surface irrigation can be subdivided into the furrow,
border strip or basin irrigation. It is often called flood irrigation when the
irrigation results in flooding or near flooding of the cultivated land.
Historically,
surface irrigation is the most common method of irrigating agricultural land
across most parts of the world. The water application efficiency of surface
irrigation is typically lower than other forms of irrigation, due in part to
the lack of control of applied depths. Surface irrigation involves a significantly
lower capital cost and energy requirement than pressurised irrigation systems.
Hence it is often the irrigation choice for developing nations, for low-value
crops and for large fields. Where water levels from the irrigation source
permit, the levels are controlled by dikes, usually plugged by soil. This is
often seen in terraced rice fields (rice paddies), where the method is used to
flood or control the level of water in each distinct field. In some cases, the
water is pumped, or lifted by human or animal power to the level of the land
Localized Irrigation
In
this system, water is applied to each plant through a network of pipes under
low pressure. Network of pipe installed in the command area. So that water loss becomes minimum and increases convince efficiency.
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler or spray irrigation is the method of applying water in a controlled manner that is similar to artificial rainfall. The water is distributed through a network that may consist of pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation or trickle irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation, in which water is delivered in form of drops near the roots of the plants. It has the potential to save water and nutrients. This method can be the most water-efficient method of irrigation if managed properly. The field water efficiency of drip irrigation is typically in the range of 80 to 90 percent.
Centre Pivot Irrigation
It is similar to the sprinkler irrigation system but the center-pivot irrigation system is a mechanized structure that covers a large area at the same time.
Subsurface Irrigation
Water is distributed through a perforated network of polyethylene (PE) pipes located just under the ground's surface to apply disinfected effluent in the root zone of plants
Importance of Irrigation
The importance of irrigation can be explained in the following points:
- Insufficient and uncertain rainfall adversely affects agriculture. Droughts and famines are caused due to low rainfall. Irrigation helps to increase productivity even in low rainfall.
- The productivity on irrigated land is higher as compared to unirrigated land.
- Multiple cropping is not possible in India because the rainy season is specific in most regions. However, the climate supports cultivation throughout the year. Irrigation facilities make it possible to grow more than one crop in most areas of the country.
- Irrigation has helped to bring most of the fallow land under cultivation.
- Irrigation has stabilized the output and yield levels.
- Irrigation increases the availability of water supply, which in turn increases the income of the farmers.
- Irrigation should be optimum because even over-irrigation can spoil crop production. Excess water leads to waterlogging, hinders germination, increased salt concentration, and uprooting because roots can’t withstand standing water. Thus the proper method is to be used for the best cultivation.
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