| Description
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Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall. Additionally, irrigation also has a few other uses in crop production, which include protecting plants against frost, suppressing weed growth in grain fields and preventing soil consolidation.In contrast, agriculture that relies only on direct rainfall is referred to as rain-fed or dryland farming.
Irrigation has been a central feature of agriculture for over 5000 years, and was the basis of the economy and society of numerous societies, ranging from Asia to Arizona.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation)
Water scarcity in many regions demands appropriate irrigation systems.
1. Surface irrigation
Running or impounding water over the surface and allowing it to saturate the soil to some depth;
2. Sprinkle irrigation
Spraying water into the air and allowing it to fall on to plants and soil as simulated rainfall;
3. Drip irrigation
Dripping water on to a fraction of the ground surface so as to infiltrate it into the root zone;
4. Subsurface exuders
Introducing the water directly into the root zone by means of porous receptacles;
5. Subirrigation
Raising the water-table from below (in places where the groundwater is shallow and controlable) so as to moisten the root zone by capillary action;
(Source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3094E/w3094e05.htm)
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| Technology for the Application of
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| ☐ Solar
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☐ Biomass
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☐ Biofuel
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| ☐ Biogas
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☐ Wind
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☐ Geo-Thermal
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| ☐ Hydro
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☐ Energy Efficiency
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| ☑ Other: Water efficiency
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| Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Steps
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| ☐ Mechanization
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☐ Efficiency of Operation
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☐ Processing
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| ☐ Transportation
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☐ Controlled Atmosphere
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☐ Controlled Temperature
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| ☐ Mechanical Sorting
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☐ Preservation
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| ☑ Other: Cultivation
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| Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Activities
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| ☐ Grinding
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☐ Hauling and conveying
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☐ Sorting
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| ☐ Seedbed Preparation
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☐ Milling
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☐ Tearing
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| ☐ Planting
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☐ Washing
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☐ Mixing
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| ☐ Pumping
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☐ Heating
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☐ Drying
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| ☑ Irrigation
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☐ Cooling
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☐ Animal feeding
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| ☐ Fertilizing
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☐ Venting
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☐ Animal health and Welfare
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| ☐ Pest Management
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☐ Lighting
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☐ Packing and branding
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| ☐ Cutting
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☐ Sanitation
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| ☐ Other: /
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| Primarily Implemented in the following Commodity Groups
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| ☑ Cereals
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☑ Fruits and vegetables
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☑ Nuts and berries
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| ☑ Forage
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☐ Dairy products
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☐ Meat products
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| ☑ Oil Seeds
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☑ Roots and Tubers
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☐ Eggs
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| ☑ Pulses
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☑ Fiber Crops
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☑ Forestry
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| ☑ Sugars
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☑ Stimulants
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☑ Spices
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| ☐ Other: /
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Region & Country of
Development
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None
☐ Africa
☐ South Asia
☐ East Asia & The Pacific
☐ Europe & Central Asia
☐ Latin America & The Caribbean
☐ Middle East & North Africa
☐ North America
☐ N/A: /
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Region & Country of
Current Deployment
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None
☐ Africa
☐ South Asia
☐ East Asia & The Pacific
☐ Europe & Central Asia
☐ Latin America & The Caribbean
☐ Middle East & North Africa
☐ North America
☐ N/A: /
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Region & Country of
Potential Deployment
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Worldwide
☑ Africa
☑ South Asia
☑ East Asia & The Pacific
☑ Europe & Central Asia
☑ Latin America & The Caribbean
☑ Middle East & North Africa
☑ North America
☐ N/A: /
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| Manufacturers
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| Economics
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| Technology Development Level
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Well established regional and widespread use;
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| Required Maintenance Technical Level
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Low: Technology to be maintained through its life cycle requires less common tools and/or training is required for maintenance;
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| Required Infrastructure for Deployment
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Low: Technology can be developed with less common tools, low development level supporting technologies and moderately trained personnel;
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| Required Resources during manufacture
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Ceramics, plastics, energy;
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| Required Resources during operation
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Energy for pumping (in some cases only);
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Deployment
Level
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Worldwide use but not very common;
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| Deployment Capability and Potential
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The technology can be widely deployed limited only by education;
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| Requirements for Deployment
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Education and training, establishing manufacturing and distribution structures;
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| Relevance for Autonomy and Food Security
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High: can be operated with onsite renewables;
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| Environment Impacts (emissions)
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Low: no direct emissions but indirect emissions;
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| Conformity with Bio- Cybernetic System Rules
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High;
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| Additional information / Comments
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No comments.
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| Internal Reference
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| Additional Links
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation
http://www.fao.org/docrep/W3094E/w3094e05.htm
http://www.fao.org/docrep/W7314E/w7314e01.htm#TopOfPage and the following pages
http://www.appropriatetech.net/files/BUSINESS_SOLUTIONS_FOR_SMALL_SCALE_IRRIGATION_TECHNOLOGIES.pdf
http://www.irrigation.org/uploadedFiles/Standards/BMPDesign-Install-Manage.3-18-14%282%29.pdf
http://www.sswm.info/category/implementation-tools/water-use/hardware/optimisation-water-use-agriculture/drip-irrigation
http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/SHOCK%202006%20Drip%20Irrigation%20An%20Introduction.pdf
http://www.sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/SIJALI%202001%20Drip%20Irrigation%20Options%20for%20Smallholder%20Farmers%20in%20Eastern%20and%20Southern%20Africa.pdf
http://www.infonet-biovision.org/default/ct/293/soilConservation
http://www.ideorg.org/OurStory/Publications.aspx
https://practicalaction.org/micro-irrigation
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