Question

About 60% of irrigation water is lost before it reaches crops. Give 3 reasons why irrigation water is lost this way?​

Answer 1

Answer:

the required amount of water should be applied;

1) the water should be of acceptable quality;

2) water application should be properly scheduled;

3) appropriate irrigation methods should be used;

4) salt accumulation in the root zone should be prevented by means of leaching;

5) the rise of water table should be controlled by means of appropriate drainage;

6) plant nutrients should be managed in an optimal way.

Answer 2

ANSWER:

Not all water is obtained from a source (well/river) reaches the root area of the crops. Portion of the water is lost during transport via the canals and into the fields. The residual part is stored in the root area and ultimately used by crops. As such, only a part of water is effectually used, the balance water is lost which should be irrigated.

Reasons why irrigation water is lost:

• There are two types of irrigation water losses one is irrigation water losses in canals and the other irrigation water losses in the field.
• Irrigation water losses in the canals are because of evaporation from surface of water, deep percolation to soil layers below the canals, seepage through the canal bunds, over-topping the bund, bund breaks, run-off in the drain, and rat holes in the bunds of the canal.
• And irrigation water losses in the field are because of surface run-off, wherein water ends up in the drain, and also due to deep percolation to soil layers underneath the root area .