Introduction to Irrigation
The term irrigation is not a new term. In fact, everybody who has engaged in agriculture in one way or another has been involved in it in one way or another. Despite the fairly fancy name, the idea being irrigation is fairly simple and satisfies one of the most basic needs of plants, crops, and basically all life.
Irrigation simply means the watering of land to make it ready for agriculture, usually planting. It involves all processes which are aimed at applying water to crop through artificial channels and means to grow them. Examples of water sources used for irrigation activities include the following:
- Wells
- Artificial ponds
- Lakes and canals
- Dams and reservoirs
Types of Irrigation
There are many types of systems used around the world. some of them include:
- Surface Irrigation: This is a type of irrigation where water is passed through furrows or channels that have been created in such a way that water passes the entire farm. It is best suited for slopy areas. Read more here.
Image courtesy of – https://www.aboutcivil.org
- Sprinkler Irrigation: In this form, water is sprayed with the aid of sprinklers in the air like raindrops.
Sprinkler irrigation system. Image courtesy https://sswm.info
- Drip Irrigation: this is a type of micro-irrigation system that allows water to drip slowly into the ground. It places the water directly in the root zone and minimizes evaporation and loss of water.
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Image courtesy of – https://guardian.ng
Importance of Irrigation
- It provides the moisture that is necessary for seed germination
- It helps increase soil fertility by adding moisture. Nutrients can also be added to the irrigation water
- It increases the yield on the farm
- It leads to the effective consumption of fertilizer by plants.