EVALUATING SURFACE IRRIGATION METHODS FOR IMPROVED AGRICULTURAL WATER MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Efficient water management is essential to sustain agriculture, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where surface irrigation is widely practiced. Despite its simplicity and historical prevalence, surface irrigation often suffers from inefficiencies such as non-uniform water distribution, runoff, and deep percolation losses. This study evaluates various surface irrigation methods, including furrow, border, and basin irrigation, focusing on innovative approaches like surge flow and alternate furrow irrigation (AFI). These methods show promise in improving water use efficiency without compromising crop yields. A comprehensive review of literature and performance metrics, including application efficiency, storage efficiency, and distribution uniformity, provides actionable insights into optimizing surface irrigation systems. By adjusting factors such as inflow rates, furrow length, and irrigation scheduling, significant water savings and improved uniformity can be achieved. Automated systems utilizing real-time data further enhance efficiency by optimizing irrigation timing. The findings highlight the potential of surface irrigation optimization in addressing global water scarcity challenges, ensuring agricultural sustainability, and balancing resource use with productivity demands.