Irrigation method

• Irrigation: All the crops need water for their growth which they absorb from the soil. The process of supplying water to the crop plants in the fields is called irrigation. The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop and season to season. Irrigation is necessary to provide moisture for the germination of seeds. It is also necessary for the absorption of nutrient elements by the plants from the soil. Crops are supplied water for irrigation from different sources like rivers, canals, wells, dams, ponds and lakes.

Traditional Methods of Irrigation:

The various traditional methods of irrigation are:

1. Moat method (Pulley system)
2. Chain pump
3. Dhekli
4. Rahat (Lever system)

The human labour or cattles are used to lift water in traditional methods of irrigation. These methods are cheaper but less efficient so these are not used now-a-days. These days pumps are commonly used for lifting water. The pumps are run by electricity, diesel, biogas or solar energy.

Modern Methods of Irrigation:

The modern methods of irrigation help us to use water economically. The two main modern methods of irrigation are:

1.  Sprinkler system – In sprinkler system of irrigation, a main pipe is laid in the fields to which perpendicular pipes are joined at regular intervals. When water from a tube-well is allowed to flow through the main pipeline under pressure with the help of a pump, it escapes from the rotating nozzles and gets sprinkled on the crops. This method of irrigation is more useful for the uneven land and sandy soil where sufficient water is not available.
2. Drip system – In the drip system, there is a network of narrow pipes with small holes in the fields. When water falls through these narrow pipes, it falls drop by drop at the position of the roots of the plants. There is no run-off or wastage of water. This technique is the best technique for watering fruit plants, trees and gardens.