Irrigation

• Irrigation is the artificial application of water to soil for the purpose of crop production.
• Irrigation water is supplied to supplement the water available from rainfall and contribution to soil moisture from ground water.
• In addition; irrigation can also be applied for leaching of soluble salts from saline soils, to regulate soil-plant temperature, field preparation etc.

Objectives of irrigation

i) To increase productivity (the crop yield per unit area). The productivity of the crop increase from 30-60% due to irrigation.

ii) To expand area under cropping.

iii) To increase cropping intensity.

iv) To minimize induce fluctuation in food production.

Principals of irrigation

i) Maximization of water use efficiency (WUE).

ii) Irrigate upto field capacity (FC) except rice.

iii) Standing water even for an hour except rice.

iv) Application efficiency should be maximum (leveling, bunding, and special shaping).

v) Irrigation water should be soaked the root zone and water management zone by mulching and weed control.

vi) Irrigation interval and intensity should be based on soil, crop cultivation and