Water Application Methods - Practices of Irrigation and On-farm Water Management - page 61

Table 2.1 Comparison of irrigation systems in relation to site and situation factors

Suitability/preferred factor under the irrigation system

Site and situation
factors Basin Border Furrow Sprinkler Drip Sub-irrigation

Soil Loam to heavy

soil

Loam to heavy
soil

Loam to heavy
soil

Sandy soil Sandy soil Sandy soil

Infiltration rate Moderate to low Moderate Moderate Moderate to high Moderate to high Moderate to high

Topography Flat/nearly level

ground

Flat-to- small
slope

Flat-to- small
slope

All category (flat
to rolling)

Flat Flat

Crop Close growing

crops, suited to
standing water

Close growing
crops, not
suited to
standing water

Widely spaced
row crops

Generally short
crops

Widely spaced
row crops,
generally high
value crops

Row crops

Wa t er
supply/stream
size

Large stream Medium-to- large

stream

Medium stream Small stream Small stream Small stream

Water quality All category All category All category Clean water Clean water Clean water

Windy climate No problem No problem No problem Problem No problem No problem

Attainable
irrigation
efficiency

80-90% 70-85% 65-75% 85-95% 85-95% 85-95%

Capital
required/initial
investment

Medium cost for
establishment
of basin

Low cost Medium cost High initial cost High initial cost High initial cost

Labor
requirement

High for
establishment,
but low for
operation

Medium Medium, low if

automated

Medium, low if
automated

Low High for

establishment,
but low for
operation