What are the modern irrigation technologies？

Agricultural irrigation technologies have evolved significantly, encompassing traditional methods and modern high-efficiency systems to optimize water use, adapt to crop needs, and promote sustainability. Below is a classification of key irrigation techniques and their features:

  1. Traditional Irrigation Methods
  2. Surface Irrigation

– Flood Irrigation

– Basin Irrigation

3.Submersion Irrigation

High-Efficiency Water-Saving Technologies

4.Sprinkler Irrigation

– Principle: Pressurized pipes spray water into the air, mimicking rainfall.

– Types: Fixed, portable, and center-pivot systems.

– Advantages: Saves 30–50% water, suitable for uneven terrain (e.g., hills, slopes).

– Applications: Field crops, lawns, orchards.

5.Drip Irrigation

– Principle: Delivers water directly to plant roots via pipes and emitters.

– Advantages: Saves 40–60% water, suppresses weeds, and enables fertigation (water-fertilizer integration).

– Applications: High-value crops (e.g., grapes, greenhouse vegetables), arid regions

6.Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation

– Features: Low flow rate and localized coverage, ideal for humidity-sensitive crops (e.g., seedlings, flowers).

  1. Subsurface Irrigation

– Principle: Moistens soil through underground permeable pipes, minimizing evaporation.

– Benefits: Highly efficient, prevents soil surface hardening, suited for deep-rooted crops.

Future Trends

– Precision Agriculture: Integration of big data and AI for optimized irrigation decisions.

– Sustainability: Scaling water-saving tech and renewable energy adoption.

– Affordability: Developing low-cost systems for smallholders (e.g., gravity-fed drip kits).