UNIT 5

Question 1

flood irrigation

Answer 1

Only appropriate for some crops, such as alfalfa - this method floods fields, causing waterlogging - but only loses 20% of water to evaporation.

Question 1

furrow irrigation

Answer 1

Water is pumped through rows of
crops - this method is prevalent
and easy to do, but is most
inefficient and loses a lot of water
to evaporation.

Question 2

spray irrigation

Answer 2

Water is released from a sprinkler
after being pumped up from a
source. Uses machines or
computerization but also fossil
fuels. Less water is lost to
evaporation

Question 3

drip irrigation

Answer 3

Water is released from a
small hose, least amount of
evaporation, but has a high
initial cost and labor

Question 4

drip irrigation - pros

Answer 4

Expensive, requires
maintenance of sensors and
computer systems. Only 25%
of water is lost to evaporation

Question 5

drip irrigation - cons

Answer 5

Farming corporation with lots of
money and labor to manage and
control the system. Workers are
well versed in managing sensors
and the corporation has capital to
spend

Question 6

spray irrigation - pros

Answer 6

Cheap, easy to install, and
existing technology is already
mostly established. 30% of
water is lost to evaporation

Question 7

spray irrigation - cons

Answer 7

Small garden with few
vegetables and flowers.
Not used for commercial
crops

Question 8

furrow irrigation - pros

Answer 8

Expensive, best for small scale. Less
amount of water is lost, but is labor
intensive to setup and maintain.

Question 9

furrow irrigation - pros

Answer 9

Small town farmer utilizes a
system that his grandfather used.
He has technology to plant crops
in rows and doesn’t have much
labor to help him.

Question 10

flo