---
title: "Surface methods; drip and sprinkler suitability"
subject: "Irrigation and Drainage Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering:surface-methods-drip-sprinkler-suitability"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering/surface-methods-drip-sprinkler-suitability
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Surface methods; drip and sprinkler suitability

Irrigation and Drainage Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2070 Bhadra, 5 marks
- Video: [CHAPTER 2 METHODS OF IRRIGATION 🔥 | Surface, Sub-Surface, Sprinkler & Drip Irrigation | AE/JE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPUPtpGPX9I) — Site se Safar Tak
- 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/surface-methods-drip-sprinkler-suitability
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/irrigation_and_drainage_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

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

## 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.

## Answer

#### 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).

## Check yourself

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

1. Wild flooding is:
   A. Water in rows only
   B. Pipes with emitters
   C. Uncontrolled spreading of water over the field
   D. Water under the soil
   Answer: C. It is cheap but uneven. (Key point: Wild flooding)

2. Sprinklers are NOT suitable for:
   A. Sandy soils
   B. Undulating land
   C. Frost protection
   D. Heavy clay, windy sites, very saline water or rice
   Answer: D. Low infiltration clay causes runoff. (Key point: Sprinkler suitability)

3. Drip suits:
   A. Wide-spaced high-value crops like orchards and vegetables
   B. Closely sown field crops
   C. Rice paddies
   D. Silty water
   Answer: A. Cost and clogging limit other uses. (Key point: Drip suitability)

4. Why is drip unsuitable with silty or iron-rich water?
   A. Plants burn
   B. Emitters clog
   C. Wind drifts spray
   D. Pressure rises too high
   Answer: B. Filters are required. (Key point: Clogging)

## 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×
- [Drip and sprinkler irrigation with sketch](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Adrip-sprinkler-sketch) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [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
- [Surface and sub-surface irrigation methods](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Asurface-subsurface-methods-suitability) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 11×
- [Surface methods and furrow irrigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Afurrow-irrigation-methods) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 11×