Question

Define irrigation, its various methods and explain its two methods which conserve water.

Answer 1

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to crops at different intervals. The time and frequency of irrigation vary from crop to crop, soil to soil and season to season. Like in summer, frequency of irrigation is higher because of the increased rate of evaporation. Water is very important for proper growth and development of flowers, fruits and seeds of plants, it plays important role in germination of seeds, transportation of nutrients in different parts of plants, protects crops from both frost and hot air currents, it maintains the moisture of the soil.

Traditional method of irrigation involves cattle or human labour and thus, are cheaper than modern methods of irrigation, various traditional ways of irrigation are:

Moat (pulley system)

Chain pump

Dhekli

Rahat (Lever system)

Modern method of irrigation help us to use water economically, it involves following methods: Sprinkler system: In this system, the perpendicular pipes with rotating nozzles on top are joined to the main pipeline at regular intervals when water is allowed to flow through the main pipe under pressure with the help of pump, it escape from the rotating nozzles, it gets sprinkled on the crop as if it is raining, sprinkler is very useful for sandy soil. Drip system: In this system, water falls drop by drop just at the position of the roots. So it is called drip system. It is the best technique for watering plants, trees and garden. This system provides water to plants drop by drop, and water is not wasted at all