Sprinkler/spray irrigation is the method of applying water to a controlled manner in that is similar to rainfall. The water is distributed through a network that may consist of pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers. Irrigation sprinklers can be used for residential, industrial, and agricultural usage.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
Spray irrigation is a modern and commonly-used system of irrigating, but it also requires machinery. This system is similar to the way you might water your lawn at home - stand there with a hose and spray the water out in all directions. Large scale spray irrigation systems are in use on large farms today. The systems can simply be long hoses with sprinklers along the length or a center-pivot system that traverses a circle in the fields. This picture shows a simple sprinkler irrigation system—it is one of the less-efficient models because a large part of the water shot into the air evaporates.
This picture shows a very common center-pivot sprinkler irrigation system in operation. The center-pivot systems have a number of metal frames (on rolling wheels) that hold the water tube out into the fields. Electric motors move each frame in a big circle around the field (the tube is fixed at the water source at the center of the circle), squirting water. The depth of water applied is determined by the rate of travel of the system. Single units are ordinarily about 1,250 to 1,300 feet long and irrigate about a 130-acre circular area. In high-pressure systems, there can be very big water guns along the tube.
A more "modern" alternative to the high-pressure water guns is the low-pressure sprinkler system (drip irrigation). Here, water is gently sprayed downward onto plants instead of being shot high in the air. Low-pressure systems are more efficient in that much less water evaporates or is blown off the fields if there is a strong wind present.
Although still widely in use today, high-pressure spray irrigation system can be quite inefficient. A lot of water, up to 35 percent, is lost because of evaporation and the blowing winds. More efficient irrigation systems are being used more often.
Sprinkler-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 20150. Of this total acreage, about 34,700 thousand acres with sprinkler systems.
Irrigation methods
Below are science topics related to spray or sprinkler irrigation water use.
Water Use Information by Topic
Irrigation Methods: Furrow or Flood Irrigation
Irrigation: Drip or Microirrigation
Irrigation Methods: A Quick Look
Irrigation Water Use
Below are multimedia resources related to spray or sprinkler irrigation water use.
- Overview
Sprinkler/spray irrigation is the method of applying water to a controlled manner in that is similar to rainfall. The water is distributed through a network that may consist of pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers. Irrigation sprinklers can be used for residential, industrial, and agricultural usage.
• Water Science School HOME • Water Use topics •
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.A typical, large-scale center-pivot spray irrigation system. Spray irrigation is a modern and commonly-used system of irrigating, but it also requires machinery. This system is similar to the way you might water your lawn at home - stand there with a hose and spray the water out in all directions. Large scale spray irrigation systems are in use on large farms today. The systems can simply be long hoses with sprinklers along the length or a center-pivot system that traverses a circle in the fields. This picture shows a simple sprinkler irrigation system—it is one of the less-efficient models because a large part of the water shot into the air evaporates.
This picture shows a very common center-pivot sprinkler irrigation system in operation. The center-pivot systems have a number of metal frames (on rolling wheels) that hold the water tube out into the fields. Electric motors move each frame in a big circle around the field (the tube is fixed at the water source at the center of the circle), squirting water. The depth of water applied is determined by the rate of travel of the system. Single units are ordinarily about 1,250 to 1,300 feet long and irrigate about a 130-acre circular area. In high-pressure systems, there can be very big water guns along the tube.
A more "modern" alternative to the high-pressure water guns is the low-pressure sprinkler system (drip irrigation). Here, water is gently sprayed downward onto plants instead of being shot high in the air. Low-pressure systems are more efficient in that much less water evaporates or is blown off the fields if there is a strong wind present.
Although still widely in use today, high-pressure spray irrigation system can be quite inefficient. A lot of water, up to 35 percent, is lost because of evaporation and the blowing winds. More efficient irrigation systems are being used more often.
Sprinkler-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 20150. Of this total acreage, about 34,700 thousand acres with sprinkler systems.
Irrigation methods
- Science
Below are science topics related to spray or sprinkler irrigation 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: Drip or Microirrigation
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.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
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- Publications