TYPES OF IRRIGATION METHODS

THE FOUR TYPES OF IRRIGATION METHODS

1.
2.
3.
4.

Surface
Sprinkler
Drip/Trickle
Subsurface

Surface irrigation consists of a broad class of irrigation methods in which water is

distributed over the soil surface by gravity flow. The irrigation water is introduced
into level or graded furrows or basins, using siphons, gated pipe, or turnout
structures, and is allowed to advance across the field. Surface irrigation is best
suited to flat land slopes, and medium to fine textured soil types which promote the
lateral spread of water down the furrow row or across the basin. Surface irrigation is
often referred to as flood irrigation, implying that the water distribution is uncontrolled and therefore,
inherently inefficient.
Four Phase Process:
Advance phase refers to that length of time as water is applied to the top end of the
field and flows or advances over the field length. After the water reaches the end of
the field it will either run-off or start to pond.
Ponding or storage phase is the period of time between the end of the advance
phase and the shut-off of the inflow is termed the wetting. As the inflow ceases the
water will continue to runoff and infiltrate until the entire field is drained.
The depletion phase is that short period of time after cut-off when the length of the
field is still submerged.
The recession phase describes the time period while the water front is retreating
towards the downstream end of the field.
Types of Surface Irrigation:
Basin irrigation Level basin irrigation has historically been used in small areas
having level surfaces that are surrounded by earth banks. The water is applied
rapidly to the entire basin and is allowed to infiltrate. In traditional basins no water is
permitted to drain from the field once it is irrigated. Basin irrigation is favored in soils
with relatively low infiltration rates (Walker and Skogerboe 1987).
Furrow irrigation is conducted by creating small parallel channels along the field
length in the direction of predominant slope. Water is applied to the top end of each
furrow and flows down the field under the influence of gravity. Water may be supplied
using gated pipe, siphon and head ditch or bank less systems. The speed of water
movement is determined by many factors such as slope, surface roughness and
furrow shape but most importantly by the inflow rate and soil infiltration rate.
Bay/Bords strip irrigation could be considered as a hybrid of level basin and furrow
irrigation. The field is divided into a number of bays or strips, each bay is separated
by raised earth check banks (borders). The bays are typically longer and narrower

compared to basin irrigation and are orientated to align lengthwise with the slope of
the field.

Sprinkler irrigation is a method of irrigation in which water is sprayed, or

sprinkled through the air in rain like drops. The spray and sprinkling devices can be
permanently set in place (solid set), temporarily set and then moved after a given
amount of water has been applied (portable set or intermittent mechanical move),
or they can be mounted on booms and pipelines that continuously travel across the
land surface (wheel roll, linear move, center pivot).

Drip/trickle irrigation systems are methods of microirrigation wherein water is

applied through emitters to the soil surface as drops or small streams. The
discharge rate of the emitters is low so this irrigation method can be used on all soil
types.

Subsurface irrigation consists of methods whereby irrigation water is applied below

the soil surface. The specific type of irrigation method varies depending on the
depth of the water table. When the water table is well below the surface, drip or
trickle irrigation emission devices can be buried below the soil surface (usually
within the plant root zone).