Define irrigation. Explain types of irrigation
Answers
Answer:
Irrigation is the process of applying controlled amounts of water to plants at needed intervals. Irrigation helps to grow agricultural crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall. Irrigation also has other uses in crop production, including frost protection,[1] suppressing weed growth in grain fields[2] and preventing soil consolidation.[3] In contrast, agriculture that relies only on direct rainfall is referred to as rain-fed.
The hub of a center-pivot irrigation system
Irrigation systems are also used for cooling livestock, dust suppression, disposal of sewage, and in mining. Irrigation is often studied together with drainage, which is the removal of surface and sub-surface water from a given area.
Irrigation canal in Osmaniye, Turkey
Sprinkler irrigation of blueberries in Plainville, New York, United States
Irrigation has been a central feature of agriculture for over 5,000 years and is the product of many cultures. Historically, it was the basis for economies and societies across the globe, from Asia to the Southwestern United States.
Answer:
Irrigation is the process of applying controlled amounts of water to plants at needed intervals. Irrigation helps to grow agricultural crops, maintain landscapes, and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of less than average rainfall.
Explanation:
All living beings need water to live.Water is important for proper growth and development of flowers, fruits and seeds of plants. Water is absorbed by the plant roots. Along with water,minerals and fertilisers are alsoabsorbed. Plants contain nearly 90% water. Water is essential because germination of seeds does not take place under dry conditions. Nutrients dissolved in water get transported to ach part of the plant. Water also protects the crop from both frost andhot air currents. To maintain themoisture of the soil for healthy crop growth, fields have to be watered regularly.The supply of water to crops atdifferent intervals is called irrigation.The time and frequency of irrigationvaries from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season. In summer, the frequency of watering is higher. Why isit so? Could it be due to the increased rate of evaporation of water from the soiland the leaves?
Sources of irrigation :The sources of irrigation are— wells, tube wells, ponds, lakes, rivers, dams and canals.
Traditional Methods ofIrrigationThe water available in wells,lakes and canals is lifted upby different methods indifferent regions, for taking itto the fields.Cattle or human labour isused in these methods. Sothese methods are cheaper,but less efficient. The varioustraditional ways are:(i) moat (pulley -system)(ii)chain pump iii)dhekli,and(iv)rahat (Lever system)Pumps are commonlyused for lifting water. Diesel,biogas, electricity andsolar energy is used to runthese pumps.
Modern Methods ofIrrigationModern methods of irrigationhelp us to use watereconomically. The mainmethods used are as follows:(i) Sprinkler System:Thissystem is more useful on theuneven land where sufficientwater is not available. Theperpendicular pipes, havingrotating nozzles on top, arejoined to the main pipelineat regular intervals. Whenwater is allowed to flowthrough the main pipe underpressure with the help of a pump, it escapes from the rotating nozzles. It getssprinkled on the crop as if it is raining.Sprinkler is very useful for sandy soil.(ii) Drip system :In this system, thewater falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So it is called dripsystem. It is the best technique forwatering fruit plants, gardens and trees.The system provides water to plants dropby drop [Fig. 1.5(b)]. Water is not waste dat all. It is a boon in regions whereavailability of water is poor.