Irrigation Types and Importance

Irrigation refers to the practice of artificially applying water to soil and plants from nearby sources to meet their water requirements. It is also a way to supply nutrients to crops. It maintains ideal moisture levels for plant growth, boosts crop yields, and sustains agricultural activities in areas with inadequate rainfall. Irrigation supports plant growth throughout their lifecycle. Proper irrigation is essential to apply consistent water to crops when rainfall is insufficient to provide a consistent water supply. From gardens and farms to lawns and landscapes, irrigation systems are now used everywhere.

Plants need water to grow and thrive. If farmers and gardeners cannot water their plants properly, they will dehydrate, wilt, and die due to dehydration. Relying only on rain is not recommended as it can be insufficient and unreliable. Overwatering is as detrimental to plant growth as underwatering. Therefore, choosing the proper irrigation method is crucial in harvesting successful yields. This guide discusses all types of irrigation, their benefits, and their importance in agriculture. Let's get into the details.

Importance of Proper Irrigation

Below are the points depicting the significance of irrigation in agriculture.

• Low rainfall causes droughts, and crops suffer due to unpredictable and inconsistent rainfall. Irrigation enhances agricultural productivity and leads to healthy crop growth by providing a consistent water supply to land and crops.
• Proper irrigation protects crops against droughts and seasonal changes.
• Irrigated land is more productive and healthier than unirrigated land.
• Irrigation helps transform barren land into cultivated land.
• Using a combination of irrigation systems allows farmers and gardeners to grow multiple crops at the same time.
• Irrigation increases water availability for crops, which boosts yields and promotes better crop quality.
• Higher crop yields due to irrigation increase farmers' income, which benefits their families and the economy.

Types of Irrigation and Their Benefits

Irrigation types include a range of methods to supply water to crops for their better growth and productivity. These methods include surface irrigation, subsurface irrigation, drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and manual irrigation. Each approach has unique benefits and works well with different plant varieties, soil types, and climates.

Let's discuss these types in detail.

Surface Irrigation

Surface irrigation is the simplest, oldest, and most commonly used irrigation type. In this type, water is applied directly to the soil and allowed to flow by gravity through a river or man-made reservoir. This type of irrigation uses gravity to draw water from a higher area to fields.

Surface irrigation, also known as flood irrigation, does not require any machine, technology, or irrigation pump. The slope should be steep enough to let water flow over the field but not too steep to flood the field. The applied water soaks into the soil towards the plant roots, from where it is absorbed by the plant for growth. Surface irrigation is most frequently used in areas with sloped land so that water can naturally flow downward.

The surface irrigation method is further subdivided into three ways:

Basin irrigation: Involves creating shallow basins around groups of plants or flat fields. The basin acts like a pond and prevents water from running into nearby fields. This type of irrigation is used in small layout fields and rice crops thrive in it.

Furrow Irrigation: This irrigation type involves digging narrow channels or furrows along the field that allow water to flow down the furrows using gravity. This method is best for irrigating orchards and row crops.

Border Irrigation: This more advanced irrigation type involves dividing a field into narrow strips bordered by low ridges. Water is applied from the higher end of the border and flows across the strip by gravity. This type is used on large farms.

Benefits of Surface Irrigation

• Simplest, easy to maintain
• Little to no technology is involved
• Cost-effective
• Nature-friendly
• Save water
• No energy costs

Subsurface Irrigation

Subsurface irrigation is the method of applying water directly to roots from beneath the soil surface. It involves digging trenches and installing a series of pipes underground to water crops under the soil. The water is applied to plants' roots by capillary action. This provides more effective hydration to roots, which is crucial for high-value crops. Once the subsurface irrigation system is installed, it requires less maintenance, which leads to cost savings for farmers. The cost of installing a subsurface irrigation system is high, but less water usage, efficient watering, and fewer water bills make the investment worthwhile.

Benefits of Subsurface Irrigation

• More effective hydration
• Less ongoing maintenance
• Significant water savings
• No evaporation and runoff

Drip Irrigation

The drip irrigation system is the most efficient method for providing water and nutrients to plants with less water loss. It consists of a network of tubing with pre-installed emitters that slowly drip water to the plants' roots. This irrigation type is also called micro-irrigation and trickle irrigation.

Drip irrigation can be installed on the surface or subsurface. Subsurface drip irrigation is considered the most water-efficient, fruitful, and neat. This precise irrigation method delivers water at the base of the plant in a controlled amount at a specific time and ensures each plant receives the optimal amount of water for optimal growth.

The components of drip irrigation include drip tubing, emitters, valves, drip tape, irrigation controllers, backflow preventers, pressure regulators, and hold-downs. This irrigation system is used to irrigate vineyards, orchards, row crops, and high-value vegetable crops.

Benefits of Drip Irrigation

• More than 90% water efficiency
• It uses less water than other types
• No evaporation, runoff, or soil erosion
• Ideal for any soil type and sloped lands
• Encourage healthy soil and plants
• Control fungal growth
• Greater yields

Smart Irrigation

Smart irrigation involves using advanced technology to save water and optimize water application. Smart irrigation components include weather-based irrigation controllers, soil moisture sensors, and rain sensors. You can incorporate this innovative technology into your existing irrigation system.

Smart systems automate and monitor your water usage, helping you detect leaks, regulate water pressure, reduce water waste, and alert you of any possible problems with the system. They leverage these sensors to automate your irrigation schedule based on your weather and plants' needs.

Benefits of Smart Irrigation

• Significant water conservation
• Prevent soil erosion
• Promote better plant health
• Provide consistent watering
• Offer convenience through automation
• Reduced usage of manual labor

Manual Irrigation

Manual irrigation refers to watering plants manually or using simple tools. It is the most common irrigation type. This irrigation is done without any help from automated devices. Manual irrigation is often used when automation is unsuitable or when the plants need a personal touch or higher control.

Farmers can water each plant using a hose or bucket. This method is suitable for irrigating small-scale farms or backyard gardens in dry climates. However, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Some common manual irrigation methods include watering cans, soaker hoses, bottles, and porous pots.

Benefits of Manual Irrigation

• Low investment
• No complex system setup
• Require no technical knowledge

Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation is another modern method of watering plants. It uses a series of pipes and sprinkler heads. The sprinklers installed on the pipe distribute water in a way like rainfall. Water flows into a pipe through the water source and then moves to sprinklers or sprayers, which throw water in steam or spray form. For sprinkler irrigation, various types of nozzles are used, such as rotary, spray, bubblers, and micro-sprinklers.

This is an overhead irrigation, so it is commonly used in lawns, landscaping, agriculture, and commercial properties. This irrigation type is considered less effective than drip irrigation because it leads to water wastage due to overspray, evaporation, and runoff. Therefore, it is essential to choose high-efficiency sprinkler heads to efficiently irrigate your landscape while conserving water.

Benefits of Sprinkler Irrigation

• Easily cover large areas
• Allows broad and even water distribution
• It is more affordable than subsurface irrigation
• Can be automated

The Bottom Line

These are the primary and popular types of irrigation that are used worldwide. The irrigation type you choose for your farm depends on various factors such as plant types, soil health, climate, budget, installation costs, and maintenance costs. The goal of irrigation is to support plant growth while reducing water loss and soil erosion. So, make sure to choose the irrigation method that efficiently waters your crops because over-irrigation can significantly impact crop production.