Surface irrigation

It is by far the most common form of irrigation throughout the world and has been practiced in many areas virtually unchanged for thousands of years.

As the inflow ceases the water will continue to runoff and infiltrate until the entire field is drained.

The depletion phase is that short period of time after cut-off when the length of the field is still submerged.

The recession phase describes the time period while the water front is retreating towards the downstream end of the field.

Shorter furrows are commonly associated with higher uniformity of application but result in increasing potential for runoff losses.

Furrow irrigation is particularly suited to broadacre row crops such as cotton, maize, and sugar cane.

In most cases the performance of furrow irrigation can be improved through increasing the speed at which water moves along the field (the advance rate).

Increasing the advance rate not only improves the uniformity but also reduces the total volume of water required to complete the irrigation.

The bays are typically longer and narrower compared to basin irrigation and are orientated to align lengthwise with the slope of the field.

Spate irrigation systems require huge management efforts to control and optimize the flow of water.

Because fast-moving water is capable of moving very large amounts of sediment, the heights of river banks and the composition of their beds can change rapidly.

[8] While surface irrigation can be practiced effectively using the correct management under the right conditions, it is often associated with a number of issues undermining productivity and environmental sustainability:[9] The aim of modern surface irrigation management is to minimize the risk of these potential adverse impacts.