Surface Irrigation Vs Drip Irrigation Method

Abstract

We all aware about the term irrigation, it is the application of supply of water to the crops plants according to their requirements by artificial means. The main motive of this article is to study and compare different methods of irrigation and especially focused on surface and drip irrigation methods. As in India, the area under irrigation is only about 36% of net sown area. Currently, only agriculture sector uses 83% of available freshwater and 5% for domestic use, 3% for industries, 6% for energy sector and remaining 3% by other consumers. Increasing population and hence the competition in future would limit the water availability. In surface irrigation methods there are higher losses in water conveyance and application, which can be reduced considerably by adopting micro irrigation methods especially drip irrigation method. Of all the irrigation methods in use drip irrigation is most efficient and also can be used in different kinds of crops mainly in orchards, vegetables, flowers, and plantation crops. Drip irrigation accounts for increased water use efficiency i.e. 90- 95 percent.