1. What is Irrigation?
Application of water to the crop in an 'Artificial Manner' is know as Irrigation.
OR
The Science of Artificial application of water to the land, in accordance with the 'Crop Requirement' throughout the 'Crop Period' for full fledge nourishment of the crops is known as Irrigation
2. Scope Of Irrigation
The scope of irrigation is not limited to the application of water to the soil. It deals with the design and construction of all works, such as dams, weirs, head regulator, reservoir, etc. in connection with the storage or diversion of water, as well as the problems of subsoil drainage, soil reclamation and water soil crop Relationships.
3. Irrigation Scope in India
The scope of irrigation in India is very wide because it has vast potentials of water resources. India is a Tropical country having vast diversity of climate topography and vegetation.
In India Only 22.25 million hectares land were irrigated up to 1951. Actual developments in the irrigation in India started in 1951. The area increased 44.20 million hectares in 1974. The area increases 64.7 million hectares in 2020.
4. Aspects of Irrigation
There are two aspects of study of irrigation :-
1. Engineering Aspects
2. Agricultural Aspects
# The Irrigation Engineering should have full knowledge regarding various methods of storing, lifting, and utilizing the available water in nature.
# The Agricultural Engineering is deals with the study of water required by different crops, time of sowing and maturity, soil treatment, etc.
5. Irrigation Sources:-
Rainfall is the primary source of water for irrigation. But it is not available throughout the year in most of the area. Therefore, we need other sources of water for irrigation which are:-
Surface sources:- rivers, dams, reservoirs, tanks, ponds, lakes, barrages, etc.
Ground sources:- ground water, wells, etc.