Negosentro.com | How To Decide Which Type of Agricultural Water To Use | Keeping crops and livestock watered in hot weather is essential but can be hard. After all, water sources tend to dry up, leaving farmers struggling to find the water they need. Despite the importance of agriculture, there are limits to how much of the mains water supply can be used by farmers.
That means they need to look for alternative sources. Fortunately, there are several options open to them. However, most farmers are starting to realize that traveling irrigators must be an essential part of their approach. These ensure that the water can be directed where it is needed. In fact, traveling systems are substantially cheaper than creating fixed irrigation systems in various locations.
Natural Water Sources
The easiest option for most farmers is to have a natural water source on the edge of their land, or running through it. This can be pumped to the various crops via the traveling irrigator without interrupting the flow of mains water. Of course, unless their farmland has access to a large river it’s unlikely that this source of water will remain available throughout the summer.
Wells
A well is simply a hole bored into the ground. It needs to be deep enough to go below the level of the water table, even in the dry summer months. This will ensure the farmers can always locate water under the soil.
Rather than build a well, the common approach is to create boreholes. These are drilled and lined in one step, the traveling irrigator can connect to the pump at the top and spray water over the designated area before moving on to the next field. It’s an efficient and effective approach.
Trenches
It is possible to dig large trenches and fill the trenches with mulch and other materials that stop the water from evaporating. The crops are then planted on the ridges, helping to ensure they have the water they need throughout the year as it is trapped in the soil. Of course, if you experience a very dry summer then this approach may not work.
Reservoirs
Farmers are also starting to create their own water reserves. It is possible to calculate the amount of water that they will need to look after their crops through the dryer months and then create a pit that can be filled with water.
Farmers already have the equipment to build the pit, all they need is enough rain in the winter months to fill it. In most areas, this shouldn’t be an issue although global warming continues to threaten the ability of farmers to produce crops year after year.
Final Thoughts
Water is a surprisingly scarce resource despite the fact that the planet is covered in it. It’s not just farmers that need to think about the best way to use it, everyone should consider how they can limit their use and ensure the water goes further. As droughts become more common this will be increasingly necessary.
