5.5 Irrigation methods

waterlogging

roots can not get enough oxygen: raises water table

salinization

too much salt left behind through evaporation or salt water intrusion → toxic for plant growth

efficiency

% of water that reaches the plant roots and is not lost to evaporation or runoff

furrow

build trenches and fill with waterf

furrow efficiency

65%

furrow benefits

low effort and cheap

furrow drawbacks

water logging and salinization

flood

flood field and let water soak evenly

flood efficiency

70-80%

flood benefits

easy, cheap

flood drawbacks

water logging and salinization

spray

pumped through nozzles (sprinklers)

spray efficiency

75-95%

spray benefits

more efficiency

spray drawbacks

more $$ and energy

drip

slowly dripping hose, buried or on top

drip efficiency

more than 95%

drip benefits

more efficient, reduces weed growth, good for all perennials

drip drawbacks

most expensive, might need to remove hoses to plow