Top 3 Methods of Irrigation (With

Diagram)
Article shared by Shreyasi Sen
Read this article to learn about the important methods of irrigation, i.e., (1) Surface
Irrigation (2) Overhead or Sprinkler Irrigation (3) Drip or Trickle Irrigation.

1. Surface Irrigation:
In this method water flows and spreads over the surface of the land. Varied quantities of water
are allowed on the fields at different times. Hence, flow of water under surface irrigation
comes under unsteady flow. As a result it is very difficult to understand the hydraulics of
surface irrigation. However, suitable and efficient surface irrigation method can be adopted
after taking into consideration various factors which are involved in the hydraulics of surface
irrigation.
They are:

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(i) Surface slope of the field,

(ii) Roughness of the field surface,
(iii) Depth of water to be applied.

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(iv) Length of run and time required.

(v) Size and shape of water-course.
(vi) Discharge of the water-course, and

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(vii) Field resistance to erosion.

If the surface irrigation method is correctly chosen it fulfills following requirements:
(a) It helps in storing required amount of water in the root-zone-depth.
(b) It minimizes the wastage of irrigation water from the field in the form of run-off water.
(c) It reduces the soil erosion to minimum.
(d) It helps applying uniform application of water to the fields.
(e) Amount of manual labour required is minimum.
(f) It is best suited to the size of the field and at the same time it uses minimum land for
making ditches, furrows, strips, etc.
(g) It does not prevent use of machinery for land preparation, cultivation, harvesting, etc.
Wild or Free Flooding:
Flooding method of irrigation is in use since centuries. Flooding method consists in applying
the water by flooding the land of rather smooth and flat topography. In modern irrigation
practice several flooding methods have been developed. In free flooding method water is
applied to the land from field ditches without any check or guidance to the flow. The method
is very clear from Fig. 6.1.

From the main or field ditch, laterals are taken across the fields at a spacing of 15 m to 45 m.
The laterals run along the contours. The water flows out through the openings in laterals to
flood the field. On the other side of the field a drain ditch is provided to take away excess

water. To divert the water from the main to the laterals generally earthen dams are used.
Sometimes steel shutters may also be used.
This method is very useful for newly established farms where making furrows, etc., is very
costly. This method is cheap and can be successfully used where water supply is in plenty.
This method is also well suited for the fields with very irregular surface which makes
adoption of other methods difficult.
Disadvantage of this method is, as there is no perfect control over the flow of water it is
difficult to attain high efficiency. Sometimes the flow of water over the soil is too rapid to
fulfil soil moisture deficiency. On the other hand sometimes water is retained on the field for
a very long time and consequently the water is lost in infiltration or deep percolation. This
method should be adopted only when other flooding methods are impossible.

Border Strip Method:

In this method a field is divided into number of strips. The width of strip varies from 10 to 15
metres and length varies from 90 m to 400 m. Strips are separated by low embankments or
levees. The arrangement is as shown in Fig. 6.2.

The water is diverted from the field channel into the strips. The water flows slowly towards
lower end, wetting the soil as it advances. The surface between two embankments should
essentially be level. It helps in covering the entire width of the strip. There is a general
surface slope from opening to the lower end. The surface slope from 2 to 4 m/1000 m is best
suited. When the slope is steeper, special arrangement is made to prevent erosion of soil.

In this method it is possible to maintain more discharges successfully. The discharge may
vary from 0.015 to 0.30 cumec depending upon the kind of soil, nature of crop, size of strips
etc. This method is suitable on the fields where soil is sufficiently capable to absorb the
water. In other words the soil should have wide variation in texture.
To divert water into the strip and to cutoff the water supply after the whole strip is flooded a
gate is provided in the field channel at the head of each strip. Extra water is generally
removed from the strip by means of a collecting drain. It is provided at the other end.
For economic and efficient use following points should be kept in mind:
1. Short strips may be more economical, the optimum distance is 90 metres.
2. A large rate of application for short time will result in more uniform and economical water
use.
3. Larger the absorption rate larger the size of stream required and shorter the strip length.
Check Flooding:
In this method, relatively level plots are enclosed by small levees or embankments. Irrigation
water enters the closed area and subsequently floods it. Check flooding method is very
suitable for soils having high permeability. The reason is that the water quickly spreads over
the entire area before it goes deep, below the root zone depths, into the ground and joins the
water table. Thus, the water loss due to infiltration is prevented or reduced.
It is best adopted for heavy soils also. In heavy soils water absorption rates are low. The land
can be kept flooded for longer time till sufficient water infiltrates into the ground to fulfill
soil-moisture deficiency. This method can be subdivided into two groups depending upon the
mode of levee construction. The subdivisions are the following:
1. Rectangular Checks:
In this system the levees are constructed to enclose rectangular area as shown in Fig. 6.3.

2. Contour Checks:

In this system checks are prepared by constructing embankments or levees along the contours
having vertical intervals of about 10 to 15 cm. Cross levees are constructed sometimes at
convenient places as shown in Fig. 6.4.

In check method 0.2 to 0.8 hectares area is better. The embankment should be about 25 to 30
cm high and the width at the base should not be more than 2.5 m. Otherwise the
embankments or levees may put hindrance to farm machinery. This method is very useful in
leaching the soil and reducing the salinity. It is generally used for grain and fodder crops.
Furrow Irrigation:
When the crops are grown and planted in rows this method is best suited. Most of the crops
are grown and planted in rows and thus this is the most commonly used method. In this
method, unlike flooding, wetting is done of only a part of the field.
The area wetted varies from 1/2 to 1/5 of total area over which crops are grown. Thus the
losses due to evaporation, deep percolation, etc., are reduced. In this method water just flows
through the furrows or small ditches and during that time the water enters the soil and the
plant roots derive their proper share from the soil. The longitudinal slope of a furrow may be
from 2 to 10 m/1000 m. Steeper slopes may also be adopted, but then it is necessary to see
that the water is not overflowing the banks of furrows. Length of furrows may be up to 800 m
for field crops, about 30 m or less for gardens. However, no rigid limit can be fixed in any
case.
The spacing of furrows varies according to the nature of the crop. For row crops, corn,
onions, potatoes, etc., the spacing is determined by the spacing of the plant rows. Thus one
irrigation furrow being provided for each row. Spacing of furrows may be from 1 to 2 meters
apart in case of orchard irrigation.
When furrows are 8 to 12 cm deep they are called corrugations or shallow furrows. Depth of
deep furrows may vary from 20 to 30 cm. The advantage of deep furrow is that in initial
stages the roots are not damaged. Deep furrow irrigation system is generally used for sugar
cane, orchards, and some field crops also. Deep furrows are best suited in soils with low
permeability.

The water is distributed to the furrows from the field channel or main ditch. Figure 6.5 shows
the arrangement clearly. In the side of field or main ditch small openings are made, and
through the openings water flows into one or more furrows. Small adjustable gates may be
provided to control the supply of water from the field ditch to the furrows. Furrow irrigation
has distinct advantages over other methods.
They are:
(i) As the area wetted is just 1/2 to 1/5 of the cropped area of the field, puddling and crusting
of the soil is minimum.
(ii) Also, loss of water due to deep percolation and evaporation is restricted.
(iii) Furrows do not put hindrance in use of field machinery or other farming methods.
(iv) In this method plants in their early tender age are not damaged by flow of water.
(v) By laying the furrows along the contours, across the slope of land, soil erosion can be
minimised.
(vi) Furrow making is a simple and cheap method and working expenses are also nominal.
(vii) Land between the rows of plants is utilized to construct furrows therefore useful
irrigable land is not wasted.

2. Overhead or Sprinkler Irrigation:

In this method an attempt is made to simulate natural rainfall. Irrigation water is applied to
the land in the form of a spray. This method is also known as sprinkler irrigation, Fig. 6.6.

Sprinklers can be used on all soil types of any topography. According to the equipment and
procedure used the sprinkler method may fall in fixed type or portable type.
The sprinkler irrigation may also be subdivided according to the functions it has to
perform, namely:
(i) The main irrigation system,
(ii) The supplementary irrigation system, and
(iii) The protective irrigation system.
The sprinkler irrigation system is in use since 1920 A.D. in some advanced countries. In India
this method has come into use since 1950. It is mostly adopted in tea and coffee gardens. But
the time has come to explore the possibilities of using this method on large scale.
Experiments have already been undertaken on this aspect at various research centres in the
country. There is great scope and likelihood of this system becoming popular in our country
in the coming years. By introduction of spray irrigation about 35 per cent of water can be
saved which is otherwise wasted in surface methods.
Following conditions favour implementation of sprinkler irrigation:
1. When the soil is too porous for good distribution by surface irrigation.
2. When there are fields with uneven surface.
3. When soil is easily erodable.
4. When water supply is just sufficient for crop growth.
There are three general type of the sprayers. They are fixed nozzles attached to the pipe,
perforated pipe and rotating sprayers.
Perforated Fixed Pipe Sprinklers:

In this method parallel pipes are installed at a suitable spacing (say 15 m) and supported on
the posts. The water is discharged through the perforations at right angles to the pipe line. The
water jets emerge out of the pipe line at an angle of 135 to the vertical. With this inclination
it is possible to irrigate the whole strip of 15 m width. Sometimes nozzles can be fixed to the
pipes. The water passes through pipes under pressure.
Portable Sprinklers:
They are mainly used for irrigation in orchards and nurseries. They consist of underground
main pipe lines, portable lateral flexible pipelines and sprinklers. Pumping plant is kept at one
point for the whole system.
Advantages of the Sprinkler Irrigation:
1. There is no erosion of soil.
2. Fertilizers are used economically since they can be injected through the water.
3. Water can be applied uniformly and in controlled manner as required for light irrigation for
nursery etc.
4. This method is natural and helpful in sowing stage.
5. This method can be used on any type of field.
6. There is good saving of water.
Disadvantages of Sprinkler Irrigation:
1. Initial cost of the system is rather high.
2. Any cost of power to provide pressure must be added to irrigation chargers. It makes this
costly and therefore unpopular.
3. Wind interferes with the distribution pattern. It reduces the spreading rate and in turn the
efficiency. Under high temperatures and strong winds heavy evaporation loss takes place
thereby offsetting the saving in water.
4. Perforations in the pipe may choke up.
5. Labour is required to move the pipes and plant.
6. Water supply has to be free from sediment to avoid choking of nozzles etc.

3. Drip or Trickle Irrigation:

It is a latest advancement over other methods. The name of the method itself implies water
saving. In this method irrigation water is conveyed on the surface in 12 to 16 mm diameter
tubings fed from large feeder pipes. The water is allowed to drip or trickle slowly through

the nozzle or orifices at practically zero pressure. In this way the soil in the root-zone of crops
is constantly kept wet.
By using this method crops can be grown successfully over the saline lands also. This method
has been found to be of great value in reclaiming and developing desert and arid areas. The
main drawback of this method is its high cost. But with growing realisation of the value of
water this method has been introduced in other countries of the world particularly in desert
areas. The method is still in initial stages of development in our country.
Advantages:
Main advantages of drip irrigation are following:
(i) It helps in optimum utilisation of irrigation water by reducing percolation and evaporation
losses on one hand and by maintaining appropriate water content in the root-zone of plants.
(ii) There is no chance of land getting waterlogged and thereby becoming saline or alkaline.
(iii) Crop yield is substantially increased.
(iv) It makes possible to go cash crops.
(v) The fields do not get infested with weeds and pest due to non-availability of excess water.
(vi) It helps in economical use of fertilizers since they are applied along with irrigation water
in solution with it.
(vii) The fields do not get eroded or degraded since there is no excessive use of water on the
fields.