Unit 6: Irrigation Flashcards
Irrigation methods
Furrow, flood, spray, drip
Furrow irrigation
Farmers dig trenches, or furrows, along crop rows and fill them with water that seeps into the ground.
Flood irrigation
Flooding a field with water and letting it seep in evenly.
Spray irrigation
Water is pumped into a machine with a series of spray nozzles that spray water across the field.
Drip irrigation
A slowly dripping hose laid on the ground or buried.
Furrow irrigation pros
Easy, inexpensive, 65% of water accessible by plants.
Furrow irrigation cons
35% or water becomes runoff or evaporates.
Flood irrigation pros
70-80% efficient
Flood irrigation cons
More disruptive to plant growth than furrow.
Spray irrigation pros
75-95% efficient
Spray irrigation cons
More expensive than furrow and flood, uses quite a bit of energy.
Drip irrigation pros
Most efficient method, 95% efficient, prevents weeds.
Drip irrigation cons
Hose needs to be moved for plowing.
