Effect of Irrigation Method on Water Conservation

Water use efficiency and economic factors as a basis for the selection of irrigation methods for farm systems and projects are examined. A brief review of comparative studies of water application and operational efficiencies is presented. This review indicates that farmers obtain approximately the same application efficiency with sprinkler irrigation as do research workers. The researchers, however, obtain considerably higher efficiencies than farmers when using surface irrigation methods. A review of comparative irrigation costs demonstrates the relative cost between methods and facilities when the limiting resource is land or water. The effect of methods on the management of both farms and projects is considered.