Features of irrigation farming

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Irrigation farming is called such agriculture, in which crops in the development process are periodically watered using irrigation structures. The most popular such system of growing agricultural plants is in arid regions, that is, where there is little natural rainfall. At the moment, this type of farming is most widespread in southern Europe, in Asia and in northern Africa.

Methods of watering plants in the ancient world

Irrigated farming is one of the oldest methods in crop production. According to archaeologists, it arose at the turn of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in the mountainous arid valleys of Asia and Mesoamerica. Initially, watering of plants was carried out only by means of embankment of flood overflows of rivers. However, already in 6 thousand BC. e. in Mesopotamia, the first primitive hydraulic systems began to be used.

Canals of Ancient Egypt

Irrigation farming technology is what largely influenced the formation of the great ancientcivilizations. For example, this is how crops were grown in ancient Egypt. Initially, the inhabitants of this country built special dams with holes to divert water to the fields. They began to use more complex hydraulic systems already in the era of the Middle Kingdom due to a noticeable increase in the area of irrigated land.

Irrigated agriculture in ancient Egypt at that time acquired the character of a basin. Under the flood water, the peasants dug large pits-receivers. Canals and shafts led from them to irrigate fields. A similar irrigation system existed in Egypt until the 19th century, when the Aswan Dam was built.

Irrigated agriculture in Russia

In our country, the irrigation system is used in such arid regions as the Volga, Central Asia, Transbaikalia, Western Siberia, etc. One of the undoubted advantages of this form of farming is the possibility of obtaining good sustainable yields (in some 2-3 per year). Similarly, corn, cabbage, tomatoes, cotton, rice, sunflower and many other crops are grown in Russia.

Amount of water used

The greatest effect when applying this method of land use can, of course, be achieved, provided that irrigation is carried out on a strictly scientific basis. Different crops require different amounts of water to develop quickly. So, for example, corn needs 100 liters per season, and cabbage needs more than 200 liters. Therefore, when drafting irrigation systemsa large number of different calculations must be made. Developers should take into account not only the amount of water consumed by plants, but also the average annual rainfall, as well as other important factors (composition and density of the soil, the duration of the warm season, etc.).

Irrigation timing

In addition to the amount of water used, when drawing up a project for irrigating land in a particular area, it is also necessary to determine the timing of soil moistening operations. It is very important, for example, to water during the flowering and budding of plants. And for this you need to know the biological characteristics of crops well.

Further development of irrigation agriculture is taking place in our time. For example, to determine the degree of drying of the soil and the need for moisture, the method of sampling using a small drill was previously used. Now special devices are used for this purpose. This allows you to get more accurate results, save time and make better use of technical tools.

Irrigation system: irrigation methods

There are several basic methods for moistening the soil under cultivated plants in arid regions:

• by running water through the furrows between the rows;
• through perforated pipes laid in the soil;
• sprinkling method.

Water can be supplied to the fields from the nearest reservoirs through large and small canals. When growing such a crop,like rice, another very effective technology is often used - flooding fields. On crops of this crop, water can stand in a thick layer (15 cm) throughout the season. In order for it not to fade, it is changed from time to time. The water is drained just before the rice is harvested.

Main varieties

There are actually many forms of irrigation farming. In flat areas, large flood systems are most commonly used. In the mountains, terraced ones can be used. In the valleys, irrigated farming is often combined with rainfed planting practices for spring crops during spring and winter precipitation. On very steep mountain slopes, unusual irrigation systems of a very complex configuration can be used. Primitive forms of irrigation land use on spring and temporary rainwater have survived in our time only in some parts of Asia and North Africa.

What else determines success in irrigation farming

Thus, it is possible to grow a good harvest of agricultural crops by correctly compiling a reclamation project. Also an important condition for the success of irrigated agriculture is the periodic application of fertilizers to the soil. After all, watering is necessary for this, so that the plants have the opportunity to absorb the nutrients they need from the ground. Fertilizers in the soil using the irrigated farming method can be applied both mineral and organic.