Answer each of the following in a paragraph:

What is irrigation? Discuss the various types of irrigation.

Irrigation is a method of supplying water to the crops where there is inadequate rainfall, or unreliable rainfall or water is not available. A controlled amount of water is supplied to crops at needed time intervals.

The following are the types of irrigation:

1. canal irrigation:- in this type of irrigation water is taken out of rivers, canal, channel or ditch. It is an effective source of irrigation in areas of low-level relief, deep, fertile soil and extensive command areas. Thus the main concentration od canal irrigation is in the northern plains of India.

2. sprinkler irrigation:- It is a method of irrigation in which water is sprinkler is used to sprinkle water in the fields. The sprinkler is a device used in agricultural crops, lawns, landscapes, golf, courses, and other areas. It is a method of applying water to a controlled manner in that it is similar to rainfall.

3. Central Pivot Irrigation:- also known as a water wheel or circle irrigation, it is a method of crop irrigation in which equipment rotates around a pivot and crops are watered with sprinklers. In this way, a circular area is covered when viewed from above.

4. Drip Irrigation:- in this type of irrigation method water is allowed to drip slowly directly to the roots of plants via a pipe which is fixed at the base of the plants. This system helps in saving water and nutrients of the soil and also minimizes evaporation.

Conclusion:- Different sources of irrigation are found at different places, for example, canal irrigation is developed in plain areas whereas on stony ground level lakes or groundwater are used as a means of irrigation. The need for irrigation arises due to irregular, uncertain and limited rainfall.