The role of irrigation in agriculture

The purpose of irrigation is to provide water to crops artificially.

FREMONT, CA: The purpose of irrigation is to supply controlled amounts of water to crops using artificial means, such as pipes, ditches, sprinklers, etc. Agricultural irrigation systems serve many purposes, including assisting crop growth, maintaining landscapes, and reducing rainwater damage. Irrigation systems are, therefore, extremely important.

It is common for agriculture to be hampered by irregular, insufficient, or uncertain rains, and Agriculture can be uninterrupted with the right irrigation systems.

Furrow irrigation: In furrow irrigation, water is applied to crops through shallow, evenly-spaced furrows. In general, furrows are made by using a hipper to make parallel beds that are spaced 30 or 38 inches apart. Lay-flat plastic pipes are equipped with furrows that transfer water from a pump. An increase in flow rate is achieved by drilling holes in the pipe.

Sprinkler irrigation: Water is applied under pressure through nozzles to plants by sprinkler irrigation. It is usually a pump that generates pressure. Fixed equipment can be moved continuously or can be fixed. Among Missouri's sprinkler irrigation systems, center pivots are the most common.

Flood irrigation: Water is supplied to a field by pipes or ditches for flood irrigation. Crops are submerged in water as it flows over the ground. Controlling water depth is often achieved with levees and gates. It is common to use irrigation methods such as cascades and side-lets to flood rice fields in Missouri. Levee gates allow water to cascade down through the field's highest elevation in cascade flood irrigation. Lay flat pipe is placed across levees, and holes are punched to convey water to multiple fields simultaneously in side-inlet flood irrigation.

Drip irrigation: Crop roots receive water drop by drop through drip irrigation. Plastic tubing is fitted with emitters to control the water flow rate under low pressure. A tube can be buried beneath the soil surface or buried on the ground.

Sub-irrigation: Sub-irrigation delivers water to crops below the soil's surface through pipes and ditches. Sub-irrigation systems are typically installed permanently below the root line to raise and maintain the water table.