Question

What are the two modern means of irrigation practiced in India? Why are they so popular?

Answer 1

The two modern means of irrigation practiced in India are sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation.

These methods have gained immense popularity across India due to the following reasons:

1. Maximum Water Efficiency: They save a lot of water by delivering it straight to the plants with little loss. Drip irrigation targets the roots drop by drop, resulting in over 90% water efficiency, whereas sprinklers replicate natural rain with 75 - 80% efficiency. This nearly eliminates water loss from evaporation, runoff, and deep soil seepage.
2. Ideal for Uneven and Sandy Terrains: Traditional surface irrigation methods, such as furrow or canal networks, require completely flat, level agricultural fields to function properly. Modern systems do not require site levelling and can be put on hilly, undulating, and very permeable sandy soils.
3. Reduced Labor and Resource Costs: These automated pipe systems significantly reduce the amount of labour required to flood and manage crops. Furthermore, technologies such as drip irrigation enable fertigation, a technique in which water-soluble fertilisers are mixed directly into the water lines, assuring focused nutrient absorption while lowering fertiliser costs.