Types of Irrigation in India 09e31aa4 PDF
Types of Irrigation in India 09e31aa4 PDF
Types of Irrigation in India 09e31aa4 PDF
Types of
Irrigation in
India
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Irrigation is the backbone of agriculture as water is the most important component required
in the cultivation of crops. This is because plants contain almost 90% water and require water
for their growth and development. India is an agrarian country where more than 80% of its
rural population depends upon agriculture and allied activities, thereby contributing about
14-15% to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Knowing about different types of irrigation
does great help to you if you’re planning to do agricultural activities. Moreover, the topic on
the types of irrigation is important for government exams like SSC and NABARD. Read the
article to know about the types of irrigation in India.
Now that we are aware of the concept of irrigation, let us study the types of irrigation
techniques used in our country. In India, the irrigated area consists of about 36% of the net
sown area. The main sources of irrigation are wells, tube-wells, rivers, ponds, lakes, dams,
and canals.
1. Surface Irrigation
2. Drip Irrigation
3. Sprinkler Irrigation
4. Traditional Irrigation Systems
I. Surface Irrigation
Surface irrigation is the oldest form of irrigation techniques. In this technique, water is
applied and distributed over the surface of soil by gravity, i.e., from an area of higher elevation
to that of lower region in order to dampen and thereby infiltrate the soil. It is the most
common form of irrigation throughout the world. This technique can be adopted after
considering the following factors are which include the hydraulics of surface irrigation:
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Individually, each surface system has varied uses along with certain disadvantages depending
upon factors such as initial cost, size and shape of fields, soil characteristics, nature and
availability of the water supply, climate, cropping patterns, and influences external to the
irrigation system.
In wild flood irrigation, the water is administered to the field by ditch or pipe and flows over
the soil surface through the crops. Though the process seems quite simple, wild flood
irrigation tends to have a negative impact on the crop and soil, as both water and labor are
often used inefficiently. This is because, with flooding, only half of the applied water is
actually used by the crop, the other half is lost to evaporation, runoff, infiltration of
uncultivated areas, and transpiration through leaves of weeds. Therefore, wild flood
irrigation is mainly used on uneven terrains to irrigate pasture, hay, and small grains, which
are not affected by sufficient water. In Spite of the shortcomings, it is to be noted that this
technique is a great solution to irrigate lands that cannot be managed by other irrigation
methods.
2. Basin irrigation
Basin irrigation is the oldest, most common and the simplest form of surface irrigation. This
technique of irrigation requires a leveled soil surface and a narrow ridge about 15 - 50 cm
high on all sides of the field which serves as a basin. The irrigated land is generally divided
into smaller areas surrounded by small levees (an embankment built to prevent the overflow
of a river). Water is transported into each basin by pipes and siphons, or through the levee.
Excess water is drained from the land with surface drains on the low contour levee.
Basin irrigation is suitable for crops such as maize, grains, cotton, or orchards where
irrigation is used on moderate to slow intake soils and deep-rooted, closely spaced crops.
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3. Border irrigation
Another type of surface irrigation under surface is border irrigation. Border irrigation works
on the principle of basin irrigation. Here, water is transported to the land through wide
borders. The area between borders is called a border strip, on which the crops grow, which
may range from 3-30 m (10-100 feet) in width. For efficient border irrigation, the border
surface should be leveled across its width so the water can spread uniformly across it. Crops
that are reactive to excessive water and soil that is too wet are not suitable to irrigate using
this method.
4. Furrow irrigation
Under furrow irrigation, water is transported from open ditches or pipes through small
channels, or furrows, along with the land. The water flowing through the channel, penetrates
the soil, thus irrigating crops. According to furrow direction and level, they can be classified
into:
Furrow irrigation is suitable for crops that are reactive to very wet soil and excessive water
over the stem.
Though furrow irrigation does not require special farm equipment and can minimize
irrigation costs, furrow irrigation does have certain disadvantages. Such as:
There are many other types of irrigation techniques that are quite popular. The following is a
list of the most popular techniques of irrigation that is used:
Drip irrigation is the most efficient water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. It
transports water and nutrients directly to the plant’s roots zone, in the right amounts, so that
the plant gets exactly what is needed, to grow optimally. Drip irrigation enables farmers to
produce higher yields while saving water as well as fertilizers.
In drip irrigation, water and nutrients are transported across the land in pipes called ‘dripper
lines’ also known as ‘drippers’. Each dripper emits drops containing water and fertilizers,
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resulting in the uniform application of water and nutrients directly to the plants, across the
entire land.
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Center pivot irrigation, is a technique of irrigation where the crops are watered with
sprinklers through an equipment that rotates around a pivot. This method is also called water
wheel or circle irrigation.
In lateral move irrigation, the water is distributed through a series of pipes and sets of
sprinklers. It is to be noted that Centre Pivot systems are anchored at one end and rotate
around a fixed central point whereas Lateral systems are not anchored and both ends of the
machine move at a constant speed up and down a paddock.
3. Sub-irrigation
Sub-irrigation is an irrigation practice used in areas with relatively high water tables or where
the water table can be artificially raised to allow the soil to be moistened from below the root
zone through a system of pumping stations, canals, weirs, gates and ditches.
1. Ditch Irrigation
A traditional method where ditches are dug out and seedlings are planted in rows.
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2. Moat
This system is also known as the pulley system. As the name suggests, a pulley is used to draw
water from a well thereby making it a labor-intensive method.
3. Chain pump
A chain pump consists of two large wheels connected by an endless chain. The bottom wheel
is immersed halfway in the water resource. The buckets are attached to the chain and as the
wheels turn, the buckets attached to it draws out water. The chain later lifts the buckets to the
upper wheel where the water is deposited into a source. And the empty bucket gets carried
back down.
4. Dhekli
This system involves drawing water from a well or a similar water resource. Here, a rope and
a bucket is tied to a pole and at the other end, a heavy stick is tied as a counterbalance. This
rope is used to draw water.
Here, water is drawn from a well with the help of cattle- animals such as cows, buffaloes, etc.
These animals are connected to a wheel and as the animals move, the wheel rotates thereby
helping to draw water from the well.
We hope this article on Types of Irrigation was helpful for you. Go through the articles to keep
your preparation on the right track. You should also download the PDF notes for improving
your revision for such important topics. Moreover, we also encourage you to check the
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