Irrigation is called such agriculture, in which crops in the process of development are periodically watered using irrigation structures. The most popular such system for growing agricultural plants is in arid regions, that is, where there is little natural rainfall. At the moment, this type of farming has received the greatest distribution in the south of Europe, in the countries of Asia and in the northern regions of Africa.
Methods of watering plants in the ancient world
The method of irrigation farming is one of the oldest in the cultivation of crops. According to archaeologists, it arose even at the turn of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in the arid mountain valleys of Asia and Mesoamerica. Initially, watering of plants was carried out only by means of an embankment of flood spills. However, as early as 6 thousand BC. e. in Mesopotamia, the first primitive hydraulic systems began to be used.
Canals of Ancient Egypt
Irrigation farming technology is what has greatly influenced the formation of the great ancient civilizations. For example, this is how crops were grown in ancient Egypt. Initially, the inhabitants of this country built special dams with holes for diverting water to the fields. They began to use more complex hydraulic systems in the era of the Middle Kingdom due to a noticeable increase in the area of irrigated land.
Irrigation farming in ancient Egypt at this time acquired the character of a basin. Under flood water, peasants dug large pit-receivers. From them led canals and shafts for irrigation of fields. A similar irrigation system existed in Egypt until the 19th century, until the Aswan Dam was built.
Irrigated agriculture in Russia
In our country, the irrigation system is used in such arid regions as the Volga region, Central Asia, Transbaikalia, Western Siberia, etc. One of the undoubted advantages of this form of agriculture is the possibility of obtaining good sustainable crops (in some cases 2-3 per year ) Similarly, Russia grows corn, cabbage, tomatoes, cotton, rice, sunflower and many other crops.
Amount of water consumed
The greatest effect when using this method of land use can be achieved, of course, provided that the irrigation is carried out on a strictly scientific basis. Different crops require a different amount of water for rapid development. So, for example, corn needs 100 liters per season, and cabbage - more than 200 liters. Therefore, when designing irrigation systems, a large number of very different calculations should be made. Developers should consider not only the amount of water consumed by plants, but also the average annual rainfall, as well as other important factors ( soil composition and density, duration of the warm season, etc.).
Watering Dates
In addition to the amount of water consumed, when drawing up a project for irrigation of land in a particular area, it is also necessary to determine the timing of soil wetting operations. It is very important, for example, to produce watering during flowering and budding of plants. And for this you need to know the biological characteristics of crops.
Further development of irrigation farming occurs in our time. For example, to determine the degree of drying of the soil and the need for its moistening, the method of sampling using a small drill was previously used. Now special devices are used for this purpose. This allows you to get more accurate results, save time and more rational use of technical means.
Irrigation system: irrigation methods
There are several basic methods for moistening the soil under cultivated plants in arid regions:
Water can be supplied to the fields from the nearest bodies of water through large and small channels. When growing a crop such as rice, another very effective technology is often used - flooding the fields. On the crops of this culture, water can stand in a thick layer (15 cm) throughout the season. In order for it not to fade, it is changed from time to time. Water comes down immediately before harvesting the rice.
Main varieties
In fact, there are many forms of irrigation farming. In lowland areas, large flood systems are most often used. In the mountains can be used terraced. In the valleys, irrigation farming is often combined with rainfed crops for spring crops on spring-winter precipitation. On very steep mountain slopes, unusual irrigation systems of a very complex configuration can be used. Primitive forms of irrigation land use in spring and temporary rainwater have survived in our time only in some areas of Asia and North Africa.
What else determines success in irrigation farming
Thus, it is possible to grow a good crop of agricultural crops by correctly drawing up a land reclamation project. Another important condition for the success of irrigation farming is the periodic application of fertilizers to the soil. After all, watering is necessary for this, so that plants have the opportunity to absorb from the earth the nutrients they need. Fertilizers in the soil using the method of irrigated agriculture can be applied both mineral and organic.