Unit 5.5: Irrigation Methods

Furrow Irrigation

Trench dug along crops and filled with water

Drip Irrigation

Holes in hose allow water to slowly drip out; most efficient method

Flood Irrigation

flood entire field with water

Spray Irrigation

ground or surface water pumped into spray nozzles; second most efficient

Waterlogging

over saturation of water in the soil, causing all pore space to fill with water and restricting roots from taking in oxygen

Solution to Waterlogging

Drip irrigation or soil aeration

Soil Salinization

process of salt building up in water over time

Solution to Soil Salinization

drip irrigation, soil aeration, flushing with fresh water, switch to freshwater source

Industrial Water Use

power plants, metal/plastic manufacturing

Municipal Water Use

households (toilets, showers, drinking water)

Agricultural Water Use

water for livestock, irrigation water for crops; most of the water used by humans is used for this

Groundwater

water stored in pore space of permeable rock and sediment layers

Aquifers

usable groundwater deposits for humans

Groundwater Recharge

rain water percolating down through soil into aquifer

Saltwater Intrusion

excessive pumping near coast lowers water table pressure, allowing saltwater to seep into groundwater

Cone of Depression

forms when water table is lowered by excessive pumping, depleting water and drying nearby wells