Definition:

• Irrigation is the artificial application of water to soil for the purpose of crop production.
• Irrigation water is supplied to supplement the water available from rainfall and the contribution to soil moisture from ground water.

Objectives of Irrigation:

A. General Objectives:

1. To accelerate the proper growth of plants due to availability of essential moisture.
2. To increase the crop yield by saving the crops from short duration droughts.
3. To washout or dilute the salts in the soil by irrigating water.
4. To lower the temperature of soil on hot days and to raise the temperature of soil on freezing days.
5. To increase the beneficial bacterial and microbial activities in the soil.
6. To improve plant quality and control crop pests and disease especially in vegetables.

B. Management objectives:

1. To access the appropriate method of using irrigation water at right amount and period.
2. Remove excess water as drainage to avoid water logging condition.