Traditional Method Of Irrigation: Types and Advantages

Most of us are used to being acquainted with the traditional method of irrigation. This practice dates back centuries and is a common practice in many parts of the world today. It’s a simple, low-cost method that works well for small gardens and farms.

Table of Contents

In this article, you’ll learn about the traditional method of irrigation. You’ll also learn about the advantages and disadvantages of this method and several modern techniques used today.

See also: Drip irrigation system: All you need to know

Understanding traditional method of irrigation

Low harvest yields, unfavourable harvests, downpours, and other problems have been perennial issues for India. Traditional irrigation methods have solved the vast majority of these problems. In the traditional method of irrigation, farmers use groundwater sources and canals to deliver water to their fields. These time-tested approaches to irrigation have yet to become obsolete. Farmers in India use these methods to ensure proper seed germination, a higher yield of harvests, and a more rapid crop production growth.

What is traditional method of irrigation?

Traditional method of irrigation refers to the method of irrigation that has been used since many decades or even centuries. These methods are most eco-friendly, cost-effectiveness and convenient than modern irrigation methods.

What is the importance of irrigation?

Irrigation involves the process of watering crops by bringing water from canals, pipes, sprinklers, or other man-made techniques, rather than depending on rainfall alone. Irrigation is vital for agriculture and farming. Most parts of India do not receive rainfall throughout the year. However, plants need water even during non-rainy months. In case of insufficient rainfall, irrigation is used by default. It can be used at any time, even in case of inadequate rain to help increase agricultural productivity. Thus, irrigation plays a significant role for the growth and sustenance of crops and plants.

Irrigation supports farming practices in the drought-prone regions like Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat (Kutch and Bhuj), etc. Even in colder northern regions of the country such as Jammu, where water is mostly in the form of glaciers, irrigation provides water supply to these areas.

Another vital benefit of irrigation is that it ensures proper water supply essential for maintaining soil fertility and facilitates ploughing.

Furthermore, the country requires a high crop yield to meet the needs of the growing population. Irrigation, along with the green revolution, fulfils the major purpose of farming in the country.

Traditional method of irrigation: Different methods of irrigation

Traditional methods of irrigation may be broken into four distinct categories. Each of these techniques is best suited for a distinct set of crops and varieties of land.

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all about: about the What is canal irrigation and how does it work?

Moat (pulley system)

Water must be drawn up from a well or some similar source to irrigate the soil using this method, also known as the pulley system. The employment of livestock or human labour is necessary to bring up water. This method requires a significant investment of both time and effort on the user’s part. Compared to other irrigation methods, employing a moat system results in much lower costs and less water going to waste.

Chain pump

The components of a chain pump are two huge wheels linked to one another by a chain. On the chain are some buckets that have been connected. The chain has a connection that goes all the way down to the water supply. The water is gathered in the bucket by turning the wheel. After some time, the chain will raise them to the higher wheel, where the water will eventually be dumped into a source. The bucket is then emptied, and it is taken back down.

Dhekli

It’s a way to get water out of a well or other underground reservoir. A pole holds a rope and a bucket. The other end has a hefty item attached to it for use as a counterweight. You may get water by using the pole.

Rahat (Lever system)

The Rahat irrigation method relies on animals’ labour. A big wheel is secured in place atop the well. An ox or a cow turned the wheel used to take water from the reservoir, and the water was drawn using a belt with buckets attached and passed over the wheel.

Traditional method of irrigation: Advantages

Traditional irrigation methods provide several advantages, some of which are region-specific and others general.

They are the least complicated and least expensive approaches to the process of irrigation.
They do not need any prior technical knowledge or expertise on the user’s part.
They may be used effectively to irrigate lands that have been levelled.
Erosion is reduced with the amount of time that the water spends in the reservoir.
Due to human supervision, water is utilised more efficiently, and the crop receives the appropriate amount of water.

Traditional method of irrigation: Disadvantages

In addition to the advantages, the traditional irrigation method includes several drawbacks that should be considered.

They need a significant amount of effort and time to complete.
The seepage that occurs in drains results in water being wasted.
As a result of the development of the crops, an abnormally large amount of water flows into the basins, which results in a loss of usable water.
If not done correctly, this may result in waterlogging.
Too much water would flow off, which would be wasteful.
The water can travel through the field if the soil has an appropriate slope and absorbs water easily. Plants are harmed by standing water, which also results in lower yields of food crops.

Modern irrigation methods

When natural precipitation is inadequate, a technique of artificial irrigation using a modern irrigation system is used. It’s the tactic of delivering water using mechanical means, such as pumps, pipes, and sprays.

Irrigation water can be drawn from various sources, such as groundwater through springs or wells, surface water through rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, and treated wastewater or desalinated water.

The following is a list of the four different kinds of modern irrigation systems:

Surface irrigation

Also known as floor irrigation, surface irrigation is the method by which water is applied to soil through the help of gravity.

Water distributed by gravity across the field’s surface constitutes the surface water system, which is a massive aggregation of water system techniques.

It is further classified into:

- Furrow irrigation: In this system, water is allowed to pass across to the field through shallow channels evenly spaced out and placed at a slope. It is supplied using siphon, main ditch, gated pipe, etc.
- Basin and border irrigation: In basin irrigation technique, water running through the soil is supplied to a field which may result in ponding for a while. In border irrigation, water is allowed to flow through ditches running through the ground with a drainage system at the end.

Sprinkler irrigation

In the field, a major pipeline is installed. At regular intervals, perpendicular pipes with revolving nozzles are connected to the main pipelines. When pressurised water is let to pass through the main pipes with the aid of a pumping system, it escapes from the revolving nozzles. This water is sprayed onto the agricultural plants to simulate rain.

The method is beneficial as crops can be protected from harsh colds or temperatures and it helps in soil conservation. Moreover, the technique can be used for applying fertiliser and pesticides to the crops.

Drip irrigation

The drip irrigation process is characterised by the passage of water down a channel and into individual drip pipelines, with producers positioned at several different dispersal points. Through the use of a great drip delivery system, water was delivered to the soil near the plant’s roots as the farmers were producing it. The drip irrigation method helps in the conservation of water is by optimizing soil moisture levels.

Subsurface irrigation

These watering systems administer water from below the surface to crops. They are also known as sub-irrigation systems. The topography of the soil by digging channels, installing subsurface tile lines or pipes or creating punctures in the surface.

See also: What is canal irrigation and how does it work?

Traditional vs modern methods of irrigation

Take a look at the table below to see how traditional and modern methods of irrigation compare and contrast.

Traditional Method	Morden Method
Ancient agricultural practices.	Innovative agricultural practices and procedures.
The pace of production is slow.	The pace of production is rather high.
An eco-friendly technique.	This is different from an approach that is friendly to the environment.
Bullock carts, oxen, and other wooden tool equipment are employed.	There are technically sophisticated tools and tractors employed.
Organic manure is often utilised as a fertiliser.	There is the extensive usage of pesticides and chemical fertilisers.

FAQs

Which modern irrigation method has the highest success rate?

Among the most effective types of irrigation, drip irrigation helps reduce the amount of water wasted in agricultural production.

Why is the traditional method of irrigation ineffective?

It is a laborious process in which the farmers use cattle to drag the canals to the agricultural fields, after which they are hauled there by the farmers. Its ineffectiveness may be attributed to the water's unequal distribution throughout the system. The amount of water that is lost is significant.

Which kind of irrigation is the most expensive?

Sprinkler irrigation is one of the most expensive types of irrigation to use.

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