Irrigation is the way you supply water to plants and soil. A good irrigation system is of the utmost importance in areas where there is little or no rainfall. Irrigation is also vital for the prevention of soil consolidation, growth of weeds in grain fields, and protection of plants from frost. Here is a brief description of the various irrigation systems used in Clearwater, along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Surface Irrigation
First in this list is the surface irrigation system, it is also commonly known as the as border strip, basin, or furrow irrigation system. The basic characteristic of this system is that gravity flow is used to irrigate the land. This method is so efficient and popular that almost 95 percent of irrigation is carried out this way in Clearwater.
The biggest advantage of this system is that it saves water by using only the amount that is needed and does not waste any. This is ideal for places where there is already shortage of water, which is what is going on here in Clearwater, believe it or not.
Another reason why this system is ideal is because it is a cheap yet effective irrigation system and requires minimal investment to set up. Plus this system is not affected by the weather or water quality of the area it is set up in. However, it does have its disadvantages too, and the one worth mentioning is that surface irrigation that is improperly installed can cause water logging and soil salinity due to improper drainage.
Sprinkler Irrigation
A sprinkler irrigation system is also known as an overhead irrigation system. This system uses high pressure sprinklers for the purpose of distributing water. This is a great way of simulating rainfall, especially during a dry spell. The advantages of a sprinkler irrigation system is that it ensures an even distribution of water to different soil types in the same area. It is also ideal for leaching out salts from the soil. The only disadvantage of this irrigation system is that it gets affected by high winds and sunshine, thus disturbing the even distribution of water and causing a lot of water to evaporate.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is also known as the trickle irrigation system and is useful in delivering water to the roots of the plant, drop by drop. It’s main advantage is that it is one of the most water-efficient methods of irrigation. The disadvantages are that it is more expensive and aesthetically not very pleasing, since its plastic lines running close to each other are visible on the ground.
