Meaning of Irrigation
Watering of crops is necessary for the growth and development of plants. During the period of water shortage or drought, farmers must apply water to plants to prevent die-back or wilting.
This process of applying water to crops to avoid dieback is called irrigation. Irrigation refers to the artificial application of water to the soil to soften tillage pan aid plants promote plant growth and enhance development.
Farmers Irrigate for the purpose of supplying the moisture requires for plant growth and productivity. Food crops require constant water supply to ensure sufficient water availability to supplement natural sources for plants to thrive and survive.
Similarly, Irrigation can be defined as the artificial application of water to crops for the purpose of supplying moisture required for plant growth, protection against drought, and aid all-year-round cultivation of crops.
Nursery crops such as oil palm, rubber, cocoa, oranges, mangoes,(tree crops) tomatoes, pepper, garden eggs, and other ornamental plants pepper, garden egg, and other ornamental plants require constant irrigation or watering during nursery stage to ensure survival and growth before transplanting to the main field.
Food production during rainfed agriculture is often inadequate to meet global population demand. Therefore, irrigation is necessary to boost food production and enhance the attainment of food sufficiency.
During irrigation, it is paramount to know that the water requirement of crops varies depending on the type of crop and the environmental condition. For example, the water requirement for crops cultivated in screen houses, pots, and trays varies significantly from crops cultivated directly into the soil.
The significance of irrigation in crop-sustaining crops during the period of drought or dry season can be overemphasized. Ensuring that crops receive enough quantity of water during periods of water shortage is paramount for plant survival and productivity.
Aim/ Purpose of Irrigation
The following is the purpose of irrigating agricultural land
- To supply water to the soil essentially for plant growth and development
- To protect crops against drought.
- To cool the soil and the environment necessary for plant growth.
- To wash away or reduce the salt content of the soil
- To soften soil tillage pan and clods
- To provide a conducive environment for the survival of microorganisms
- To aid the application of fertilizer.
Source of Water for Irrigation
The following are the sources of water for irrigation
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Streams
- Ponds
- Bore-hole
- Wells
- Reservoirs
- Springs
- Brooks
- Dams
- Rivers: this is a natural body of water that flows toward the seas. The flow of the river naturally influences seasonal variation which can pose serious challenges for irrigation. It is one of the important sources of irrigation water use in agriculture. Water from streams can be directed to the farmland through constructed channels, farmers may use. Buckets, bows, and watering can also be used to fetch water manually for irrigating crops, additionally, pipes are laid to the river while a centrifuge pump is used to draw water from the river into reservoirs or storage tanks for watering crops.
- Lake: a lake is a large body of water surrounded by land. It’s a vital source of water for irrigating agricultural land. To source water for Lake Bucket, a bow or watering can be used to fetch water to irrigate the soil. A pipe can also laid to the lake, and a centrifuge pump is used to draw water from the lake into reservoirs or storage tanks for watering crops.
- Stream: This is a continuous flow of surface water within a narrow channel. The water level in the Stream usually fluctuates during the season i.e. dry up in the dry season and fills during rain. This posed serious challenges to the amount of water available for irrigating agricultural land. To source water for watering channel is constructed to direct water to the farm. A bucket, bow, or watering can is used to fetch water from the river while a pipe and pump can used to draw water from the river into reservoirs or storage tanks for irrigation purposes.
- Pond: this is a small body reservoir of water artificially constructed in or within the stream bank. Ponds are shallow and may not contain sufficient water for large-scale farming. To source water from the pond, a bucket or watering can may be used to fetch water or a surface pump can also be used to transport water for irrigation.
- Borehole: A borehole modern and reliable source of irrigation for both subsistence and commercial agriculture. It involves drilling a narrow shaft into the ground to source underground water. The water from the bole hole is channeled with the use of a pipe to a reservoir or a tank where it be used to irrigate crops directly. It is considered one of the most dependable sources of water for irrigation.
- Wells: a well is a man-made narrow hole dug into the ground to access underground water. A common area where unground water is abundant or where there are large bodies of water. In a well with enough quantity of water, the farmers may use a surface pump to draw water from the well to water crops. Water source from the well can be stored in a tank or reservoir for further uses.
- Springs Water: This type of water usually flows from a soil aquifer to the surface of the Earth for irrigating farmland. Spring water is possible in areas where there is enough quantity of underground water and stored in a tank or reservoir for irrigation purposes.
- Dams: this is the oldest and a reliable source of water for irrigation. Dam are usually constructed to restrict the flow of surface water and create reservoir water storage the source water from the dam Pipe is laid from the dam to the farm to ensure a steady source of water supply.
- Brooks: this is a natural, temporary, and small running body of water that serves as a tributary to other rivers. It is usually used as a source of irrigating crops. It is used for irrigation because they can hardly dry which makes it one of the most dependable sources of water for irrigation.
- Reservoirs: this body of water is created to purposely restrict or store water. It is a large natural or artificial lake created to serve as a water supply. Reservoirs can be established on the farm to store water for consistent water supply for irrigation purposes.