Irrigation and Drainage

A Library Subject Guide providing suggested resources and other information for beginning research about Irrigation and Drainage.

Overview
Irrigation is the process of applying water to soil, primarily to meet the water needs of growing plants. It is any process other than natural precipitation, which supplies water artificially to the soil to make up the deficiency of moisture under natural conditions for the profitable growth of crops, which otherwise would not be assured. The irrigation process involves investigation, planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of structures and channels for the proper conveyance of water from the source to the point of application. 

Drainage deals with cleaning up the “mess” that multiple other activities have left behind. Drainage water from different locations and/or facilities will have different quality characteristics affecting the surrounding area differently and requiring different means of being handled (Jorjani, 1990). 
Keywords
Broader Term(s)
  • Irrigation
  • Drainage
Related Term(s)
  • Agricultural Science
  • Arable Land
  • Evapotranspiration
  • Irrigation Management
  • Irrigation Water
  • Soil Water
  • Irrigation
  • Water Management
  • Drainage System
  • Irrigation System