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A certain amount of water is necessary for proper crop nourishment. When this water is not naturally available, irrigation makes it possible to compensate for water deficits. Even when the amount of rainfall is sufficient, its spatial and temportal distribution may not be as required. Both underwatering and overwatering lead to soil problems, root and turf diseases, nutritional deficiencies and reduced plant yields. To ensure success of the irrigation system, monitoring, managing and maintaining the system is necessary.
Choosing the right irrigation system
Choosing the right irrigation system has profound environmental and economic effects. The chosen method needs to complement the terrain, type of plants and gardening goals, in order to maximise plant productivity and minimise water usage and energy costs. Understanding the main advantages and disadvantages of irrigation systems can help you select the one that suits your needs the best. To learn more, drag the statements and drop them to the right system on the image to reveal different system properties.
Irrigation Systems Advantages and Disadvantages by Monina Orlina and Ruth Schaldach is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Recommended further reading:
- Water Efficiency in Agricultural Irrigation
- Literature Review on Managed Aquifer Recharge in the Context of Water and Soil Restoration Methods
