Definition of Irrigation

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TeachMeFinance.com - explain Irrigation



Irrigation

The term 'Irrigation ' as it applies to the area of agriculture can be defined as ' Applying water (or wastewater) to land areas to supply the water (and sometimes nutrient) needs of plants. Techniques for irrigating include furrow irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, trickle (or drip) irrigation, and flooding. About 51 million acres of land are irrigated in the United States. More acres of corn are irrigated than any other crop, but only about 15% of the harvested acres. In contrast, irrigation is used for 100% of rice, 81% of orchards, 64% of vegetables, and 36% of cotton. About 40% of freshwater withdrawals in the nation are for irrigation, making agriculture the single largest user of water. Nearly 90% of all irrigation water withdrawals are in the western states, where in some areas competition for available supplies among uses, including base stream flow, has become controversial. Consumptive use as a percent of withdrawals is about 61% for irrigation'.

Previous 5 Terms:
Irrigable acreage for service (irrigable area for service)
Irrigable area not for service
Irrigable land
Irrigated acreage
Irrigation
Next 5 Terms:
Irrigation check
Irrigation district
Irrigation efficiency
Irrigation requirement
Irrigation return flow




About the author

Mark McCracken

Author: Mark McCracken is a corporate trainer and author living in Higashi Osaka, Japan. He is the author of thousands of online articles as well as the Business English textbook, "25 Business Skills in English".


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