TECHNOLOGY OF WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE FARM
Sprinkler irrigation method
In this farm-water application method, TECHNOLOGY OF WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE FARM water is applied to the soil in the form of a spray through a network of pipes and pumps. Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying water which is similar to natural rainfall but spread uniformly over the land surface just when needed and at a rate less than the infiltration rate of the soil so as to avoid surface runoff from irrigation. This is achieved by distributing water through a system of pipes usually by pumping which is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops which fall to the ground. The system of irrigation is suitable for undulating lands, with poor water availability, sandy or shallow soils, or where uniform application of water is desired. No land leveling is required as with the surface irrigation methods. The water that is pumped through the pump pipe sprinkler system must be free of suspended sediments. As otherwise there would be chances of blockage of the sprinkler nozzles. It is a costly process and widely used in U.S.A., and rarely used in Nepal. It can be used for all types of soils and for widely different topographies and slopes. It can advantageously be used for many crops, because it fulfills the normal requirement of uniform distribution of water. This method possesses great potentialities for irrigating areas in Rajasthan in India, where other types of surface or sub-surface irrigation are very difficult.
In spite of the numerous TECHNOLOGY OF WATER DISTRIBUTION IN THE FARM advantages which this method possesses over the other methods, it has not become popular in Nepal for the simple reason that ours is a poor and a developing nation. This method is not only costly but requires a lot of technicalities. The correct design and efficient operation are very important for the success of this method. Special steps have to be taken for preventing entry of silt and debris, which are very harmful for the sprinkler equipment. Debris-choke nozzles interfere with the application of water on the land while the abrasive action of silt causes excessive wear on pump impellers, sprinkler nozzles, and bearings. The system is to be designed in such a way that the entire sprayed water seeps into the soil, and there is no run off from the irrigated area.
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