Water
Irrigation
Irrigation supplies water to crops to supplement or replace rainfall. This overview introduces the main methods and the principles behind managing water well; specific volumes and schedules are always local.
Main irrigation methods
- Surface irrigation — water flows across the field by gravity (for example furrow, border, or basin systems). Widely used and low-cost, but efficiency depends heavily on management and land levelling.
- Sprinkler irrigation — water is applied through pressurised sprinklers, including centre-pivot and lateral-move systems, giving more even application on many soils.
- Micro-irrigation — drip and micro-sprinkler systems deliver water slowly near the root zone, which can improve application efficiency and suit high-value crops.
- Subsurface systems — water is delivered below the surface, including subsurface drip, reducing evaporation losses.
Managing water well
Good irrigation management aims to meet crop water needs at sensitive growth stages while avoiding waste, waterlogging, and salinity. Crop water requirements are commonly estimated from evapotranspiration and local climate data, then matched to soil water-holding capacity and the chosen method.
Because requirements depend on crop, soil, climate, water quality, and system, AgricultureID does not publish universal irrigation volumes. Reference methods and data are maintained by FAO and national services.
Related topics
Irrigation interacts closely with soils and crops. Soil texture governs how much water a soil holds and how quickly it drains, which shapes irrigation decisions.
Irrigation methods A–Z
In-depth entries on individual irrigation methods and water-management approaches.
16 entries
- Irrigation method
Alternate Wetting and Drying
Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is a water-saving management practice for irrigated lowland rice in which fields are allowed to dry to a safe threshold before being re-flooded, reducing water use and methane emissions when managed within safe limits.
- Irrigation method
Basin Irrigation
Basin irrigation applies water to level, bunded plots that are flooded and hold the water until it infiltrates the soil. It is the simplest surface method and is widely used for rice paddies and for orchards on level land.
- Irrigation method
Border Irrigation
Border irrigation divides a field into long, gently sloping strips bounded by parallel ridges, down which a sheet of water advances and infiltrates as it flows. It suits close-growing crops such as cereals, pasture, and forage legumes on uniform slopes.
- Irrigation method
Center Pivot Irrigation
Center pivot irrigation uses a long, wheeled sprinkler system that rotates around a fixed central pivot point, automatically irrigating a large circular area with comparatively low labour input, and is a dominant method for large-scale row-crop irrigation in flat to gently rolling terrain.
- Irrigation method
Deficit Irrigation
Deficit irrigation is a deliberate water-management strategy that applies less water than a crop's full water requirement at defined growth stages, accepting some water stress in exchange for water savings or, for some crops, quality effects.
- Irrigation method
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation delivers water slowly and directly to the root zone of individual plants or rows through a network of tubing and emitters, minimising evaporation and runoff compared with methods that wet the whole field surface.
- Irrigation method
Fertigation
Fertigation delivers soluble fertilizer to crops by injecting it into an irrigation system, applying nutrients together with water in smaller, more frequent doses timed to crop demand rather than as separate soil applications.
- Irrigation method
Furrow Irrigation
Furrow irrigation applies water by gravity flow along shallow, parallel channels between raised crop rows, wetting the root zone from the side while keeping the row top drier, and is a long-established method for row crops such as cotton and maize.
- Irrigation method
Irrigation Scheduling
Irrigation scheduling is the practice of deciding when and how much to irrigate, based on crop water need, soil moisture status, and weather, so that any irrigation method — drip, sprinkler, or surface — is applied at the right time and amount rather than on a fixed calendar.
- Irrigation method
Lateral-Move Irrigation
Lateral-move irrigation is a mechanised sprinkler system in which a long, wheeled sprinkler boom travels in a straight line across a rectangular field, applying water evenly as it moves. It is closely related to the center pivot but covers rectangular rather than circular areas.
- Irrigation method
Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation
Micro-sprinkler irrigation applies water through small, low-pressure sprinkler or spray heads set close to the crop, wetting a limited area around each plant or a strip along the row rather than the whole field surface.
- Irrigation method
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting captures and stores rainfall or runoff — from field surfaces, catchment areas, or rooftops — in ponds, tanks, or soil-based structures for later use in irrigation, supplementing or extending other water sources.
- Irrigation method
Soil Moisture Sensing
Soil moisture sensing uses instruments placed in the root zone to measure how much water the soil holds or how tightly it holds it, providing the field data used to decide when and how much to irrigate.
- Irrigation method
Sprinkler Irrigation
Sprinkler irrigation applies water under pressure through nozzles that distribute it over the field in a pattern resembling rainfall, offering more even coverage than surface methods on uneven or sloping land and adaptability across many crops.
- Irrigation method
Subsurface Irrigation
Subsurface irrigation delivers water below the soil surface, most commonly through buried drip tubing, so water reaches the root zone directly while the surface stays dry, reducing evaporation and interference with field operations.
- Irrigation method
Surface Irrigation
Surface irrigation applies water by gravity flow directly across the soil surface — as basins, borders, or furrows — making it the oldest and, globally, still the most widely used irrigation approach, particularly where land is level and water is inexpensive relative to labour.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- Authoritative
Cited for: Crop water requirements and irrigation methods
- Type:
- Intergovernmental organization
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- [2]FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Cited for: Water management in agriculture
- Type:
- Intergovernmental organization
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- [3]USDA NRCS — Natural Resources Conservation Service (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Cited for: Irrigation and soil-water management
- Type:
- Government agency
- Jurisdiction:
- United States
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12