In spite of some very wet weather, this center pivot in southern Wisconsin is running. Irrigation has been growing in the Midwest in recent years and it could be effecting the transport of agricultural chemicals to streams.
Irrigation: Drip or Microirrigation Completed
By Water Science School
June 11, 2018
Drip or Microirrigation
Water-Use Data for the Nation
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) compiles and publishes national water-use data every 5 years.
The USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) compiles and publishes national water-use data every 5 years.
Water Use Information by Topic
Water Science School Home
In drip irrigation (microirrigation), water is run through pipes (with holes in them) either buried or lying slightly above the ground next to the crops. Water slowly drips onto the crop roots and stems.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Drip irrigation is a very efficient way to irrigation crops and has the advantage of lower evaporation than other irrigation methods, it is the most common type of "microirrigation." Drip irrigation is one of the more advanced techniques being used today because, for certain crops, it is much more efficient than traditional spray irrigation, where a larger portion of the water is lost to evaporation.
In drip irrigation, water is run through pipes (with holes in them) either buried or lying slightly above the ground next to the crops. Water slowly drips onto the crop roots and stems. Unlike spray irrigation, very little is lost to evaporation and the water can be directed only to the plants that need it, cutting back on water waste.
Advantages of microirrigation
Microirrigation has gained attention during recent years because of its potential to increase yields and decrease water, fertilizer, and labor requirements if managed properly. Microirrigation systems can apply water and fertilizer directly to individual plants or trees, reducing the wetted area by wetting only a fraction of the soil surface; thus, water is applied directly to the root zone.
- Microirrigation is a low pressure, low volume irrigation system suitable for high-return value crops such as fruit and vegetable crops.
- If managed properly, microirrigation can increase yields and decrease water, fertilizer and labor requirements.
- Microirrigation applies the water only to the plant's root zone and saves water because of the high application efficiency and high water distribution uniformity.
- Microirrigation can irrigate sloping or irregularly-shaped land areas that cannot be flood irrigated.
- Any water-soluble fertilizer may be injected through a microirrigation system.
Source: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Drip irrigation water use in the United States, 2015
Irrigation is one of the major uses of water throughout the world. In the United States in year 2015, irrigation withdrawals were an estimated 118,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d), or 132,000 thousand acre-feet per year. About 63,500 thousand acres were irrigated in 2015. Of this total acreage, about 5,490 thousand acres with drip/microirrigation systems.
Irrigation methods
Below are science topics related to drip or miccroirrigation water use.
Water Use Information by Topic
Water is everywhere, which is fortunate for all of humanity, as water is essential for life. Even though water is not always available in the needed quantity and quality for all people everywhere, people have learned to get and use water for all of their water needs, from drinking, cleaning, irrigating crops, producing electricity, and for just having fun.
Irrigation Methods: Furrow or Flood Irrigation
It's a good thing farmers don't need to haul buckets of water to keep crops watered. Nearly as old as the bucket method though, is furrow or flood surface irrigation where farmers flow water down small trenches running through their crops. For more information about irrigation read on.
Irrigation Methods: A Quick Look
Irrigation is the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes through manmade systems to supply water requirements not satisfied by rainfall. Crop irrigation is vital throughout the world in order to provide the world's ever-growing populations with enough food. Many different irrigation methods are used worldwide, including
Irrigation Water Use
Throughout the world, irrigation (water for agriculture, or growing crops) is probably the most important use of water (except for drinking and washing a smelly dog, perhaps). Irrigation water is essential for keeping fruits, vegetables, and grains growing to feed the world's population, and this has been a constant for thousands of years.
Below are multimedia resources related to drip or miccroirrigation water use.
Center pivot irrigation system
In spite of some very wet weather, this center pivot in southern Wisconsin is running. Irrigation has been growing in the Midwest in recent years and it could be effecting the transport of agricultural chemicals to streams.
- Overview
In drip irrigation (microirrigation), water is run through pipes (with holes in them) either buried or lying slightly above the ground next to the crops. Water slowly drips onto the crop roots and stems.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsDrip irrigation is a very efficient way to irrigation crops and has the advantage of lower evaporation than other irrigation methods, it is the most common type of "microirrigation." Drip irrigation is one of the more advanced techniques being used today because, for certain crops, it is much more efficient than traditional spray irrigation, where a larger portion of the water is lost to evaporation.
In drip irrigation, water is run through pipes (with holes in them) either buried or lying slightly above the ground next to the crops. Water slowly drips onto the crop roots and stems. Unlike spray irrigation, very little is lost to evaporation and the water can be directed only to the plants that need it, cutting back on water waste.
Advantages of microirrigation
Microirrigation has gained attention during recent years because of its potential to increase yields and decrease water, fertilizer, and labor requirements if managed properly. Microirrigation systems can apply water and fertilizer directly to individual plants or trees, reducing the wetted area by wetting only a fraction of the soil surface; thus, water is applied directly to the root zone.
- Microirrigation is a low pressure, low volume irrigation system suitable for high-return value crops such as fruit and vegetable crops.
- If managed properly, microirrigation can increase yields and decrease water, fertilizer and labor requirements.
- Microirrigation applies the water only to the plant's root zone and saves water because of the high application efficiency and high water distribution uniformity.
- Microirrigation can irrigate sloping or irregularly-shaped land areas that cannot be flood irrigated.
- Any water-soluble fertilizer may be injected through a microirrigation system.
Source: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Drip irrigation water use in the United States, 2015
Irrigation is one of the major uses of water throughout the world. In the United States in year 2015, irrigation withdrawals were an estimated 118,000 million gallons per day (Mgal/d), or 132,000 thousand acre-feet per year. About 63,500 thousand acres were irrigated in 2015. Of this total acreage, about 5,490 thousand acres with drip/microirrigation systems.
Irrigation methods
- Science
Below are science topics related to drip or miccroirrigation water use.
Water Use Information by Topic
Water is everywhere, which is fortunate for all of humanity, as water is essential for life. Even though water is not always available in the needed quantity and quality for all people everywhere, people have learned to get and use water for all of their water needs, from drinking, cleaning, irrigating crops, producing electricity, and for just having fun.Irrigation Methods: Furrow or Flood Irrigation
It's a good thing farmers don't need to haul buckets of water to keep crops watered. Nearly as old as the bucket method though, is furrow or flood surface irrigation where farmers flow water down small trenches running through their crops. For more information about irrigation read on.Irrigation Methods: A Quick Look
Irrigation is the controlled application of water for agricultural purposes through manmade systems to supply water requirements not satisfied by rainfall. Crop irrigation is vital throughout the world in order to provide the world's ever-growing populations with enough food. Many different irrigation methods are used worldwide, includingIrrigation Water Use
Throughout the world, irrigation (water for agriculture, or growing crops) is probably the most important use of water (except for drinking and washing a smelly dog, perhaps). Irrigation water is essential for keeping fruits, vegetables, and grains growing to feed the world's population, and this has been a constant for thousands of years. - Multimedia
Below are multimedia resources related to drip or miccroirrigation water use.
Center pivot irrigation systemIn spite of some very wet weather, this center pivot in southern Wisconsin is running. Irrigation has been growing in the Midwest in recent years and it could be effecting the transport of agricultural chemicals to streams.
In spite of some very wet weather, this center pivot in southern Wisconsin is running. Irrigation has been growing in the Midwest in recent years and it could be effecting the transport of agricultural chemicals to streams.
- Publications