Why Irrigate

 

Water is essential in the movement of plant nutrients from the soil to the growing crop and in maintaining turgidity in plant cells. Given the right amount of irrigation, plant growth and crop yields are assured.No irrigation is required if effective rainfall (total rainfall minus run-off) is sufficient to supply crop needs. Effective rainfall is therefore that which is absorbed in the soil and excludes that portion lost from the Crop's rooting zone by deep percolation, is available for plant growth until depleted to the wilting point for the particular soil.Since a crop requires the right proportions of air and water in the soil for optimum growth, drainage is beneficial in heavy soils with slow internal movement of water. Removal of this excess water also flushes out dissolved salts which may be harmful to plant growth.

Note also the necessity for the application of readily soluble fertilizers relative to irrigation or heavy rainfall.

 

Good Irrigation Practices Include:

1.    Careful analysis of the soil intake . The rate of water intake of soils varies with the soil type. Irrigation should not be applied at rates which exceed the rate of absorption of the soil. This causes loss through surface run—off/and or evaporation resulting in a low irrigation efficiency, and possibly salination of the soil.

 

2.    Proper scheduling of irrigation, to replenish the supply of water which is readily available for plant growth.