Sprinkler Irrigation System in Agriculture
Irrigation Methods
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Surface irrigation methods

Water is applied to the land surface from a field channel located at the upper reach of the field and water flows into the field under gravity. The common methods of surface irrigation are border strip, check basin and furrow irrigation.


Flod Irrigation

Furrow Irrigation

Border Irrigation

Main Irrigation Canal
Pressurized irrigation methods

Water is conveyed through pipes under pressure and applied to the crops by sprinkling it over the land surface or applied on the soil surface as a point source, usually in the form of drops. It comprises of sprinkler and drip method of water application

Sprinkler irrigation

Water is sprayed into the air and allowed to fall on the ground surface somewhat resembling rainfall. The spray is developed by the spray of water under pressure through small orifice or nozzle. It can be used for almost all crops (except rice and jute) and on most soils. Not suitable in very fine textured soils (heavy clay soils) where the infiltration rates are less than about 4 mm per hour. Suited to sandy soils that have a high infiltration rate. Land leveling is not essential for irrigation with sprinklers. Soluble fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides can be applied in the irrigation water economically and with little extra equipment. Field supply channels and bunds or ridges are not required.


Splinklar Irrigation System Arrangement

Travel Sprinkler Irrigation

Travelling Gun Irrigation

Wheel Line Sprinkler Irrigation

Wheel Line Use for Irrigation

Wheeled Sprinkler Irrigation
Advantages of sprinkler irrigation

(i) Elimination of the channels for conveyance, hence no conveyance losses,
(ii) Suitable to all types of soils except heavy clay,
(iii) Suitable for irrigated crops where the plant population for unit area is very high,
(iv) Water saving,
(v) Higher water application efficiency,
(vi) Increase in yield,
(vii) Mobility of system,
(viii) Saves labour cost, as no bunds are required,
(ix) Areas located at a higher elevation than the source can be irrigated,
(x) Possibility of using soluble fertilizers and chemicals.

Working of sprinkler irrigation system

Water is drawn through desilting basin or debris screen from the shallow well by means of centrifugal pump or from deep tube wells by means of deep well turbine pumps and filtered. When the pressure exerted by the existing pump is not sufficient to drive the water, a booster pump is installed in addition to pumping unit. The filtered water enters into the mains. The water pressure is regulated with take-off valves by monitoring a pressure gauge. The quantity of water flowing in the system is regulated by water meter. The water then enters into sub mains. Coupler are provided at each junction i.e., at the place of joining of two pipes. End plugs are provided at the end of sub mains. Water from sub mains enters into the laterals which in turn enter into sprinkler head, through which water is sprayed in the entire field resembling rainfall.

Drip irrigation

Method of watering plants frequently and with a volume of water approaching the consumptive use of the plants, thereby minimizing conventional losses like deep percolation, runoff and soil water evaporation. In this method, irrigation is accomplished by using small diameter plastic lateral lines with devices called “emitters” or “drippers” at selected spacing to deliver water to the soil surface near the base of the plants. The system applies water slowly to keep the soil moisture within the desired range for plant growth.


Drip Irrigation System Arrangement

Drip Irrigation

Drip Irrigation System
Drip irrigation system components

• Head control unit

o Pump/overhead tank
o Fertilizer applicator
o Filters (a.Gravel or media filter b.Screen filter)
o Pressure relief valves, regulators or bye pass arrangement
o Check valves or non return valves
o Distribution network (a. Main line b. Sub mains c.Laterals d. Drippers (i. Online pressure compensating drippers ii.Online non-pressure compensating drippers iii. In line drippers or In line tubes))

Drip Irrigation for All Crops

Drip Irrigation Emitter

Drip Irrigation with Mulching

Drip Irrigation System Garlic Plantation