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Why is the method of drip irrigation considered highly efficient for crop production in arid regions?
It increases soil salinity
It provides water directly to the root zone
It encourages rapid weed growth
It requires minimal initial infrastructure
It provides water directly to the root zone
Drip irrigation, or micro-irrigation, is a system that delivers water slowly and directly to the base of plants through a network of pipes and emitters. By minimizing the wetted surface area, it drastically reduces water loss due to evaporation and surface runoff, which is critical in arid environments.
Drip irrigation, or micro-irrigation, is a system that delivers water slowly and directly to the base of plants through a network of pipes and emitters. By minimizing the wetted surface area, it drastically reduces water loss due to evaporation and surface runoff, which is critical in arid environments.
Think of it like drinking water directly from a straw rather than throwing a bucket of water over your head to catch droplets with your mouth.
WUE=WYтАЛ тАФ where WUE is Water Use Efficiency, Y is Crop Yield, and W is Total Water Applied.
The system utilizes the principle of pressurized distribution to deliver water at a low flow rate, typically measured in liters per hour (L/h). By applying water specifically at the root zone (rzтАЛ), the soil moisture is maintained at field capacity without saturating the entire field. This prevents deep percolation losses and keeps the evaporation rate from the soil surface (EsтАЛ) significantly lower than conventional flooding methods.
Minimizes evaporation from the soil surface (EsтАЛ).
Prevents water wastage by eliminating deep percolation.
Allows for 'fertigation', the simultaneous application of fertilizers with water.
Reduces the incidence of fungal diseases due to dry foliage.
High water use efficiency (up to 90-95%)
Reduced weed growth in non-irrigated areas
Operates at lower pressures compared to sprinkler systems
Can be used in undulating terrain
High initial investment costs
Prone to clogging of emitters if water is not filtered
Requires technical knowledge for maintenance
Orchards and plantation crops
Greenhouse vegetable cultivation
Soil salinity is generally reduced in the root zone compared to flood irrigation, as salts are pushed to the periphery of the wetted bulb.
Option A is incorrect because drip irrigation helps leach salts away from the roots, rather than increasing salinity. Option C is incorrect as it restricts water to the crop, denying weeds in adjacent areas. Option D is incorrect as drip systems require significant infrastructure like pumps, filters, and piping.
B is correct тАФ It provides water directly to the root zone, maximizing water uptake efficiency and minimizing evaporative loss.
In competitive exams, always look for 'precision' in irrigation techniques; 'drip' implies precision, while 'surface' implies volume-based (wasteful) irrigation.