Irrigation: Meaning, Types, Methods and Importance

Irrigation refers to the artificial procedure of applying a controlled amount of water to land in order to assist in the production of crops. Moreover, nutrients may also be provided to the ropes through irrigation. The different sources of water for irrigation are wells, lakes, ponds, canals, tube-wells, dams, and so on. Here, we will study irrigation, its types, importance with some important questions.

What is Irrigation?

Irrigation is a process of supplying specific amounts of water to land to aid in the development of crops, but it may also be used to produce landscaping plants and lawns, in which case it is referred to as watering. 

In dry places and during seasons of below-average rainfall, irrigation aids in the growth of agricultural crops, the maintenance of landscapes, and the ecological restoration of damaged soils. Irrigation purposes in crop production, including frost protection, weed suppression in grain fields, and soil consolidation prevention as well.

Types of Irrigation

There are different types of irrigation farmers carry out depending on the soil, climatic conditions, area, and so on.

Surface Irrigation

Surface irrigation which is often considered to be gravity irrigation, is the oldest and most widely used irrigation, having been used for thousands of years. Water travels over the surface of agricultural fields in surface (furrow or flood) irrigation systems to moisten it and permeate into the soil. Water moves as a result of gravity or the land's slope. Furrow, border strip, and basin irrigation are three types of surface irrigation. When irrigation results in flooding or near flooding of cultivated land, it is sometimes referred to as flood irrigation. In most regions of the globe, surface irrigation is still the most popular technique for irrigating agricultural land.

Micro Irrigation

Micro-irrigation which is also referred to as localized irrigation or low volume irrigation is a method wherein water is delivered under low pressure through a piped network in a pattern that is pre-determined and applied as a tiny discharge to each plant. Individual emitters, subsurface drip irrigation, micro-spray, and micro-sprinkler irrigation are all examples of this type of irrigation.

Sprinkler irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation is a type of irrigation water application that mimics natural rainfall. Pumping is used to transport water through a system of pipes. The water is then sprayed into the air by sprinklers, breaking up into little water drops that fall to the ground.

Hose-end sprinklers

Hose-end sprinklers come in a variety of styles. Many are miniature replicas of bigger agricultural and landscape sprinklers that may be used with a standard garden hose.

Sub-irrigation

Sub-irrigation has been widely used in field crops in places having high water tables for many years. It's a technique for artificially elevating the water table so that soil may be watered from below the root zone of plants. Those systems are frequently coupled with drainage infrastructure and are placed on permanent grasslands in lowlands or river valleys. It may manage the water table by increasing or decreasing the water level in a network of ditches using a system of pumping stations, and canals.

Methods of Irrigation

There are two types of Irrigation methods: 1) Traditional Methods and 2) Modern Methods.

1) Traditional Methods

Traditional methods are practiced by farmers for a very long time. These irrigation systems were used in earlier years and are still practiced in some areas. They are done manually (i.e. animal or human labor is used) and are cost-efficient.

Some of the traditional systems include:

• Moat (pulley-system)

Moat, also known as a pulley system is a type of manual irrigation that includes a collection of water from wells with the help of a pulley to irrigate the fields. It is time-consuming and saves money by avoiding water waste.

• Rahat (Lever System)

Rahat also known as lever system is a type of traditional irrigation that uses animal labor (cow, oxen, etc). It has a large wheel above the well that is moved by an ox or cow to draw water from the well. It is cost-effective and avoids water wastage.

• Chain Pump

Chain pump is a type of irrigation system that is commonly used by farmers. The chain pump is made up of a wheel that is moved by a chain. Water is drawn by the movement of these wheels and the chain.

2) Modern Methods

In recent years, more efficient irrigation methods have been developed. Modern methods are time-saving and help in the conservation of water and reducing wastage. There are two systems involved in the modern method: Sprinkler system, Drip system.

• Sprinkler System

Sprinkler irrigation is used to imitate rainfall. It sprinkles water all over the crop field to distribute water evenly. The following are the components of a typical sprinkler irrigation system:

1. Pumping system
2. Mainlines and occasionally sub mainlines
3. Laterals or sprinklers

The pump unit is generally a centrifugal pump that receives water from the source and delivers it to the pipe system at sufficient pressure. The mainline, as well as a sub, mainline transport water from the pump to the laterals. These pipes are sometimes permanent and are placed on the ground surface or buried below. The laterals supply water to the sprinklers from the mainlines or sub mainlines. They can be permanent, although they are most commonly portable. The most common type of sprinkler system layout is irrigation by the lateral movement and it gives the best coverage regardless of the size of the farm.

• Drip System

Drip irrigation is one of the most effective irrigation systems in agriculture since it decreases water waste. This system includes pipes with holes at frequent points lined together in the crop field that provides water to plants drop by drop, this helps to keep the soil moist evenly and is efficient in the areas where there is water scarcity.

Importance of Irrigation

• Increase in agricultural production and productivity.
• Droughts and famines can be effectively controlled with irrigation.
• Irrigation aids in the production of agricultural crops and the restoration of damaged soils in dry places and during periods of below-average rainfall.
• Crops are adversely affected by either too much or too little water availability. As a result, irrigation systems aid in the production of a decent batch of crops while ensuring a constant supply of water.
• Increasing the amount of land under cultivation and successfully implementing the High Yielding agriculture approach.

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Things to Remember

• Irrigation is a process of supplying specific amounts of water to land to aid in the development of crops, but it may also be used to produce landscaping plants and lawns, in which case it is referred to as watering. 
• There are different types of irrigation farmers carry out depending on the soil, climatic conditions, area which is: surface, micro, sprinkler, sub-irrigation, and so on.
• There are two types of Irrigation methods: 1) Traditional Methods and 2) Modern Methods.
• Traditional methods are practiced by farmers for a very long time. These irrigation systems were used in earlier years and are still practiced in some areas. 
• Some of the traditional systems include: Moat (pulley-system), Rahat (Lever System), Chain Pump.
• In recent years, more efficient irrigation methods have been developed. Modern methods are time-saving and help in the conservation of water and reducing wastage. 
• There are two systems involved in the modern method: Sprinkler system, Drip system.