💧 Irrigation: Lifeline of Agriculture
🌿 Introduction
Irrigation is the process of supplying water to crops at regular intervals through artificial means such as canals, wells, pumps, or sprinklers. It plays a crucial role in agriculture, especially in areas with irregular rainfall or dry climates. Irrigation ensures proper crop growth, increases productivity, and helps farmers cultivate crops throughout the year.
📘 Definition
Irrigation can be defined as the artificial application of water to soil for the purpose of assisting in the growth of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils.
🌾 Importance of Irrigation
- Ensures continuous crop production even in dry seasons.
- Improves soil fertility and crop yield.
- Helps in the cultivation of multiple crops in a year (multi-cropping).
- Prevents drought and crop failure.
- Facilitates even distribution of fertilizers and nutrients.
🚜 Types of Irrigation Systems
There are several irrigation methods depending on soil type, water availability, and crop requirement:
1. Surface Irrigation
Water flows over the soil surface by gravity. It includes flooding, furrow, and basin methods. It is the most common and traditional form of irrigation used by farmers.
2. Sprinkler Irrigation
Water is sprayed into the air through nozzles, similar to natural rainfall. It helps in saving water and is suitable for almost all crops except rice.
3. Drip Irrigation
Water is supplied directly to the roots of plants through pipes and emitters in small quantities. It is a highly efficient method that minimizes water wastage and is suitable for fruit and vegetable crops.
4. Subsurface Irrigation
In this method, water is applied below the soil surface through buried pipes or channels. It prevents water evaporation and is suitable for high-value crops.
5. Canal Irrigation
Water is distributed through a network of canals drawn from rivers, reservoirs, or dams. This method is widely used in India for large-scale irrigation.
6. Well and Tube Well Irrigation
Groundwater is drawn using wells or tube wells and pumped to the fields. It is ideal for regi