Surge Flow Irrigation: The Pros and Cons of Using This Water-Saving Method

Surge-flow irrigation was introduced in the 1970s. It is a method that increases the effectiveness of furrow irrigation to a level similar to drip and sprinkler irrigation. It also makes it possible to automate furrow irrigation. By incorporating a surge valve in your irrigation practices, you can irrigate twice the land with the same volume of water. However, before moving to the pros and cons of surge-flow irrigation, let’s understand furrow irrigation and its limitations.

The Issues With Furrow Irrigation

Furrow irrigation is a type of surface irrigation that involves digging channels to water plants. Depending on the nature of the soil, ridges are formed at different angles. In furrow irrigation, the flow of water depends on the following factors:

● The roughness of the soil

● Soil infiltration

● Volume of water

Furrow irrigation is often preferred over flood irrigation because it reduces water waste and yields better crops.

Furrow Irrigation Problems

Despite its advantages, furrow irrigation has certain limitations, as mentioned below:

● It doesn’t distribute water evenly.

● A fast flow of water causes a quick run-off.

● If the water flows slowly, the deep percolation problem at the field’s inflow end worsens.

Benefits of Surge-Flow Irrigation

When compared to furrow irrigation, surge-flow irrigation offers various benefits like the ones mentioned below:

● Even water distribution

● Increased flow rate

● Reduced likelihood of deep percolation.

● Better water penetration

According to statistical data, surge-flow irrigation reduces water usage by 24%, while another study suggests that water usage decreases by 51% with the surge-flow method.

Downsides to Surge-Flow Irrigation

Despite the benefits of surge-flow irrigation, there are some downsides, like the following:

● Additional costs of switching irrigation systems

● This irrigation system needs redesigning, and the field needs to be leveled, which is time-consuming.

Final Word

Surge-flow irrigation reduces water run-off, and it helps maintain the uniformity of water application. Moreover, it improves the irrigation system performance without needing too much labor. Whether it’s surge-flow irrigation, flood irrigation, furrow irrigation, or any other method of watering your crop, you need the right tools.

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