---
title: "Drip and sprinkler irrigation with sketch"
subject: "Irrigation and Drainage Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering:drip-sprinkler-sketch"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering/drip-sprinkler-sketch
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Drip and sprinkler irrigation with sketch

Irrigation and Drainage Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2079 Asoj, 4 marks; 2063 Baisakh (old course), 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Different Types of irrigation systems in Agriculture | Drip, Gun Sprinkler, Center pivot irrigation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9HAy9EYKKs) — Discover Agriculture
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering/drip-sprinkler-sketch
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

Explain the drip and sprinkler methods of irrigation with neat sketches.

## Short answer

Drip irrigation delivers water dropwise through emitters at 1-2 bar near the root zone, suitable for orchards and vegetables, efficiency 85-95%. Sprinkler irrigation pumps water through nozzles spraying like rain, used on undulating/sandy soils, efficiency 65-80%.

## Answer

#### Drip irrigation
Water is applied slowly, drop by drop, at or near the root zone through emitters on small tubes at low pressure (about 1-2 bar).

```text
 Source -> Pump -> Filter -> Main line
                        |      |
                     Sub-main  Fertilizer tank
                        |
   ---o---o---o---o---o--- lateral (emitters)
   ---o---o---o---o---o---
        plant rows
```

Parts: pump, filter (screen/sand), fertilizer injector, main and sub-main pipes, laterals, emitters (drippers), valves, pressure regulator.
Use: orchards, vegetables, greenhouse, steep and sandy land. Efficiency 85-95%.

#### Sprinkler irrigation
Water is pumped through a pipe network to nozzles, which spray it over the crop like rain.

```text
 Source -> Pump -> Main pipe -> Lateral pipe
                                 |  riser
                      \ | /      \ | /
                       sprinkler   sprinkler
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ spray over field ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
```

Types: portable, semi-portable, permanent, rotating-head, perforated pipe, and mobile (raingun, centre pivot).
Use: undulating, sandy and light soils, cereals, fodder, vegetables, and where water is scarce. Efficiency 65-80%.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which sequence shows a drip system's flow?
   A. Source, emitters, filter, pump, lateral
   B. Pump, nozzle, riser, filter
   C. Source, pump, filter, main line, sub-main, laterals with emitters
   D. Source, canal, outlet, furrow
   Answer: C. Filtered water passes along main and sub-main pipes to laterals carrying emitters. (Key point: Drip components)

2. At what pressure does drip typically operate?
   A. Very high, about 20 bar
   B. Zero pressure, open channel
   C. About 100 bar
   D. Low pressure, about 1-2 bar
   Answer: D. Drip works at low pressure, so gravity can sometimes supply it. (Key point: Drip pressure)

3. How does a sprinkler apply water?
   A. Pumped through pipes to nozzles that spray it like rain
   B. Drop by drop through emitters
   C. Through buried perforated pipes
   D. By flowing in furrows
   Answer: A. Pressurised water leaves nozzles on risers as spray. (Key point: Sprinkler mechanism)

4. Which pairing of efficiencies is correct?
   A. Drip 65-80%, sprinkler 85-95%
   B. Drip 85-95%, sprinkler 65-80%
   C. Both 40-60%
   D. Drip 30%, sprinkler 50%
   Answer: B. Drip is the more efficient of the two. (Key point: Efficiency comparison)

## Related in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

- [Advantages of sprinkler and drip irrigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Adrip-sprinkler-pros-cons) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Surface methods; drip and sprinkler suitability](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Asurface-methods-drip-sprinkler-suitability) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1
- [Drip and sprinkler for hilly regions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Adrip-sprinkler-hill-region) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1
- [When to use sprinkler irrigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Asprinkler-situations-pros-cons) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1