Water Application Methods - Practices of Irrigation and On-farm Water Management - page 37

• surface irrigation

• subsurface irrigation

• overhead irrigation

Surface irrigation system may be subdivided based on mode of water application as

• border irrigation

• basin irrigation

• furrow irrigation

• drip irrigation

Overhead irrigation includes sprinkler irrigation and hand watering.
Classification system - C
Based on wetted area of crop root zone by irrigation, irrigation methods can be
grouped as

• flood irrigation

•

drip (or trickle or localized) irrigation

•

sprinkler irrigation

Flood irrigation can be further grouped as

• basin irrigation

• border irrigation

• furrow irrigation

Basin irrigation may be either “check basin” or “contour basin”.

The definition of different types of irrigation systems are outlined below:

Gravity irrigation : Irrigation in which the water is not pumped but flows and is
distributed to the crop field by gravity.
Pressurized irrigation : Irrigation system in which water is pumped and flows
to the crop field by pressure.
Surface irrigation : A form of irrigation where the soil surface is used as a
conduit.
Subsurface irrigation or subirrigation : Applying irrigation water below the
ground surface either by raising the water table within or near the root zone.
Border irrigation : Border irrigation is defined as the application of water to an
area typically downslope and surrounded by two border ridges or dikes to the
ends of the strip.
Basin irrigation : Basin irrigation is defined as the application of water to an
area typically leveled to zero slope and surrounded by dikes or check banks
to prevent runoff.