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Surface methods; drip and sprinkler suitability

Short answer

Surface methods: wild flooding, border strip, check basin, ring basin, furrow. Sprinkler suits undulating/sandy land, scarce water, close crops, provides uniform light application on slopes. Drip suits orchards, vegetables, water-scarce/saline areas, enables fertigation and high efficiency (85-95%), not dense field crops.

Write various methods of surface irrigation and discuss the suitability of drip and sprinkler irrigation.

Surface irrigation methods

  • Wild flooding: uncontrolled spreading of water.
  • Border strip: levelled long strips between bunds.
  • Check basin: small level plots with bunds (rice).
  • Ring basin: circles around trees.
  • Furrow: channels between crop rows.

Suitability of sprinkler irrigation

  • Undulating and steep land (no levelling needed).
  • Sandy and light soils with high infiltration.
  • Where water is scarce and uniform light application is required.
  • Close-growing crops: cereals, fodder, vegetables, tea; also for frost protection.
  • Not suitable for heavy clay, windy sites, very saline water or rice.

Suitability of drip irrigation

  • Orchards, plantations, vegetables, flowers and greenhouse crops (wide-spaced, high-value).
  • Water-scarce areas and saline water, hills and sandy land.
  • Where fertigation is wanted.
  • Not suitable where water has too much silt or iron (clogging), or for closely sown field crops (cost).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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