Agrica

We all aware about the term irrigation, it is the application of supply of water to the crops plants according to their requirements by artificial means. The main motive of this article is to study and compare different methods of irrigation and especially focused on surface and drip irrigation methods. As in India, the area under irrigation is only about 36% of net sown area. Currently, only agriculture sector uses 83% of available freshwater and 5% for domestic use, 3% for industries, 6% for energy sector and remaining 3% by other consumers. Increasing population and hence the competition in future would limit the water availability. In surface irrigation methods there are higher losses in water conveyance and application, which can be reduced considerably by adopting micro irrigation methods especially drip irrigation method. Of all the irrigation methods in use drip irrigation is most efficient and also can be used in different kinds of crops mainly in orchards, vegetables, flowers, and plantation crops. Drip irrigation accounts for increased water use efficiency i.e. 90- 95 percent.

Surface irrigation better known as flood irrigation is the oldest traditional irrigation method across the world. It is the easiest yet natural of all irrigation methods known. This irrigation system is based on the principle of gravity. It is the method of introduction and distribution of water in a field with the help of gravity flow over the soil. It is most common form of irrigation all over the world and has been practiced in various places virtually unchanged for hundreds or thousands of years. In this method water distribution is not uniform and therefore, it is not efficient. This method uses soil surface to infiltrate and conduct the applied irrigation water, and further this method efficiency is based on soil infiltration rate, surface roughness, soil water holding capacity, slope, and channel geometry. All these factors together play an important role in defining the effectiveness of this irrigation system.

Drip irrigation is one of the innovations in irrigation methods in which water is applied near the plants at a slow rate approximating crop consumptive use. Water immediately enters the soil and spread laterally as well as in downward direction. Drip irrigation method comes under micro irrigation systems which have the potential to save mainly water and also nutrients allowing water to reach drop by drop or slowly directly to the roots of plants, either from the surface of soil buried inside the soil surface. The main aim of this system is to reduce water loss mainly runoff and evaporation losses this allows water drop to get placed directly on plant roots hence maximizing water use for the plant. This system is more efficient than surface irrigation.