Methods of Water Application

Irrigation is an artificial system of applying water to the soil. This system is very useful in areas
where there is very little rainfall and during dry seasons. Irrigation is also used to prevent soil
consolidation, suppress the growth of weeds in grain fields, and to protect plants against frost.
There are different systems of irrigation, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
The modes of applying irrigation water to the fields vary with the following factors:
i) The type of crop to be grown and its market value
ii) Topograpy of the land
iii) The type of soil to be irrigated
iv) The source and quantity of available water supply
v) Amount of land preparation and
vi) Cultural practices.
Irrigation water may be applied to crops by flooding it on the field surface, by applying it beneath
the soil surface, by spraying it under pressure or by applying it in drops. The common methods of
irrigation are:

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 1
 Surface Irrigation
Surface irrigation is an irrigation system in which gravity flow is applied to move water across the
land in order to infiltrate and wet it. Surface irrigation is further classified as borderstrip, basin or
furrow irrigation. Surface irrigation is the most commonly used method of irrigation and
represents as much as 95 percent of common irrigation activity today. The most obvious
advantage of surface irrigation is that it is the most widely understood method of irrigation due to
its popularity. Surface irrigation conserves water, as it applies water only down to the depths
required to refill the root zone. It is especially handy in cases where there are water shortages.
Surface irrigation is comparatively cheap to develop, and requires minimal investment on the part
of the farmer. Surface irrigation is not affected by climatic and water quality characteristics. The
major disadvantage of surface irrigation is that it tends to lead to waterlogging and soil salinity if
there are no provisions for adequate drainage. Another disadvantage is that it tends to be labor
intensive.

Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinklers are affected by windy conditions.
Sprinkler or overhead irrigation is an irrigation system in which water is distributed throughout
the field by the aid of high-pressure sprinklers. The idea is to simulate rainfall during dry weather.
The advantages of sprinkler irrigation systems include their more even distribution of water when
different soil types are found within one irrigation scheme. Sprinkler irrigation systems are better
than surface irrigation in leaching out salts from the soil, and they are not affected by uneven land
distribution. The disadvantage of sprinkler systems is that they are affected by windy conditions
which disturb the even distribution of water from the sprinklers.
Sprinkler irrigation system includes the application of water in the form of a spray, somewhat
resembling rainfall. It is suitable for almost all crops on moist soils and on lands of wide range of
topographic conditions.
The method is best suited for irregular topography, sloping grounds, small sized plots and fields
containing crops with different water requirements.
Advantages of Sprinkler Irrigation System
The advantages of sprinkler irrigation system are as follows.
1. Water measurement is easier than surface irrigation system.
2. Less interference with cultivation and less land loss.

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 2
 3. Higher application efficiency.
4. High and frequent application can be effectively accomplished.
5. Easy mechanization and automation.
6. Seepage losses eliminated
7. Suited to coarse soils
8. Elimination of runoff and percolation losses.
9. Application of fertilizer
10. Soil erosion eliminated
11. Uniform water application
12. Danger of waterlogging eliminated
13. Low labour requirement

Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation System:

1. High initial cost.
2. High operating cost.
3. Poor uniformity if wind velocity is more than 16 km per hour.
4. A stable water supply is needed.
5. Saline water may cause problem.
6. Water must be free from sand, debris and large amount of salt.
7. Considerable evaporation losses.
8. Not suited for crops requiring frequent large depth of irrigation as in case of paddy.
9. Requires large power for its operation.
10. Requires continuous supply of water.
Subsurface Irrigation:

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 3
 In the sub- surface irrigation, water is carried below the general ground level either to feed the
water table from where it flows up to saturate the root zone of the plants of directly to plant roots
through drains or pipes. Water from the drains or pipes infiltrates into the root zone of the soil and
the method is called artificial sub-surface irrigation. The capillary movement of moisture must be
rapid enough to supply crop needs.
Advantages of Subsurface Irrigation:
Adds water, nutrients, and minerals to the soil, which promotes plant life
Demands less energy than other methods of sanitary sewage disposal
Protects nearby water sources from contamination
Provides nutrients for cover crops, which are used to restrict effluent runoff and can be
harvested and sold
Recharges precious groundwater resources
Relieves local streams and rivers of the burden placed on them by the water discharged from
treatment plants
Disadvantages of Spray & Subsurface Drip Irrigation
A large land area must be dedicated to spray or drip irrigation areas.
Driving vehicles over a subsurface drip irrigation system will likely damage piping.
Storage facilities for effluent must exist for extended periods of time when the ground for spray
irrigation systems is wet or frozen.
Wind obstructions may be necessary with a spray irrigation system to prevent off-site air
transportation of effluent.

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 4
 Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is one of the methods of irrigation that saves water and fertilizer. In drip irrigation
method, water drips slowly to the roots of the plants either onto the soil surface or directly onto
the root zone through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The process is completed in
narrow tubes so that water is given directly to the root of the plant. Drip irrigation is also termed
as localized irrigation or micro irrigation.

Advantages of Drip Irrigation

The advantages of drip irrigation are as follows
1. Water is used at maximum level.
2. As water is applied locally and leaching is reduced, fertilizer/nutrient loss is minimized.
3. Weeds can not absorb water as no water is available for them.
4. Yield of crops are maximum.
5. Fertilizers can be used with high efficiency.
6. Weed are grown in less number.
7. Operational cost is low.
8. Soil erosion is not taken place.
9. Soil infiltration capacity is increased.
10. Fertilizers and ground water is not mixed.
11. Seed germination is improved.
12. We can use recycled water safely.
13. It is not necessary to level the fields.
14. We can irrigate water in irregular shaped lands.
15. Waste of fertilizers are lessen.
16. Energy cost is reduced as it is operated in lower pressure
than other irrigation methods.

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 5
 Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation
Disadvantages of drip irrigation are as follows:
1. Expense specially initial cost is high.
2. The lifetime of the tubes used in drip irrigation can be shortened by the sun causing wastage.
3. May cause clogging if water is not filtered correctly.
4. Problems in moisture distribution.
5. Salinity problem.
6. Germination problem.
7. High skills are required.
Selection of irrigation methods:
Selection of an irrigation method is based on technical feasibility and economics. Surface
methods are generally the cheapest to install and where conditions are suitable- there is little point
in considering other methods.
However, where high value cash-crops are to be grown- there may be economic justification for
considering other types of irrigation.
Factors to be considered while selecting irrigation method:
1. Land preparation
2. Variability of soil types
3. Water quantity and quality
4. Climate
5. Crop
6. Operation
Selection of surface irrigation method:

Ashutus Singha, Assistant Professor, Department of Irrigation and Water Management, SAU, Sylhet-3100 Page 6