5.5 - Irrigation Methods Quiz Study Guide

saltwater intrusion

Excessive pumping of groundwater from wells can influence the water levels below ground. What is most likely to occur in aquifers in coastal areas than in aquifers in other regions?

drip irrigation

What agricultural irrigation method results in the loss of the least amount of water by evaporation?

drip irrigation

This type of irrigation is often used by small-scale farming operations and it requires extensive labor to setup individual irrigation lines

furrow irrigation

This type of irrigation, often used in orchards growing tree crops, distributes water to plants through small parallel channels between crops rows but often leads to increased soil erosion in the field.

addition of large amounts of water to leach out salts

What would be the best method for remediating the effects of soil salinization

spray irrigation

This type of irrigation uses a large system of sprinklers that must be annually moved from field to field and has very large evaporation losses

Underlines US plains and is being depleted by overuse

What is true of the Ogallala Aquifer?

Advantages: easy
Disadvantages: often leads to increased soil erosion in the field.

Advantages and disadvantages of furrow irrigation

Advantages: easy
Disadvantages: Waterlog

Advantages and disadvantages of flood irrigation

Advantages: Semi efficient
Disadvantages: Large evaporation

Advantages and disadvantages of spray irrigation

Advantages: Most efficient
Disadvantages: most expensive

Advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation