Irrigation Engineering Basics

Irrigation is defined as the artificial application of water to arid land for growing crops. It is a profession as well as a science. A crop requires certain amount of water at certain fixed intervals throughout its period of growth. Irrigation is not required if this requirement is met with from sufficient rainfall as in England. In tropical countries like India the first two or three essential requirements of plant growth, that is, heat and light are available in abundance, but the third, that is, moisture needs to be supplemented frequently by artificial application of water. Thus, irrigation is supplementary to rainfall when it is either deficient or comes irregularly or at unreasonable times.