Where plants are supplied with water artificially it is known as irrigation. Irrigation is done in intervals to ensure proper distribution and non-wasteful use of water. In areas where rain water is not sufficient, irrigation is the common option of growing plants. Apart from growing agricultural products, irrigation is also majorly used in landscape maintenance.
As an agricultural purpose, the weed growth can be greatly controlled through irrigation. Irrigation plays a great role in ensuring that there is less soil consolidation which may be regarded as improper hardness of the soil. Irrigation is mainly applied in the agricultural and crop production, but it is also used in livestock production for cooling livestock bodies. Dust can be reduced and controlled through irrigation. Irrigation in mining can be done to soften the rocks and also reduce the dust in the mining areas. Sewage disposal can also be done through irrigation. Irrigation can be seen as a way of drainage since it can be done in order to eradicate water from a certain surface.
Irrigation has been used in many countries throughout the world in different social cultures and hence different ways of usage. Many countries have had use of irrigation in maintaining crop production to ensure self-sustaining production of food. Irrigation has been greatly used in desert and semi-desert countries throughout a large period of time. The practice of irrigation have also developed throughout the ages due to the rise in irrigation technology. Countries have therefore seen the need to use their water bodies like rivers and lakes to supply water to the less-privileged areas of the country.
The various types of irrigation vary in terms of the method of water supply to the crops. Depending on the water consumption rate, the amount of water needed is determined. The water consumption level varies in terms in plants since some plants may entirely need constant supply of water for growth. Among the oldest type of irrigation is the surface irrigation. This type of irrigation involves use of furrows and through this structure water flows throughout the cultivated land. Maximum saturation of the soil makes this type of irrigation cause flooding. Countries with sufficient and large water bodies mainly use the surface irrigation.
Another famous mode of irrigation is the micro irrigation which can also be referred as the trickle irrigation. This type of irrigation involves supply of water through pipes under a certain sequence in lower quantities to the plants. Sprinklers and spraying equipment are used to carry out drip irrigation and is common to small plants that have low water consumption rate. Whilst offering equipment and irrigation suggestions and schemes, irrigation in Yakima can be termed as one of the successful irrigation entities and locations.