Basic Ideas and Approaches for Improving Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency

Basic Ideas and Approaches for Improving Agricultural Irrigation Efficiency

The core objective of improving agricultural irrigation efficiency is to achieve more uniform, timely, and efficient water supply to crops with less water consumption and lower labor and energy input, ultimately promoting increased yield and income. This is not about pursuing breakthroughs in a single technology, but rather a systematic optimization of water sources, field engineering, water management, and operational practices, centered around the "crop needs." The basic approach can be summarized as: shifting from "irrigating the land" to "irrigating the crops," and upgrading from "extensive" to "precise" irrigation.

Basic Idea One: Achieving the shift from "flood irrigation" to "controlled irrigation," the core of which is reducing water waste during transportation and distribution. The fundamental reason for the poor effectiveness of traditional flood irrigation is the excessive water loss in the field (deep percolation and surface runoff) and evaporation. The primary way to improve efficiency is to transform the field water delivery and distribution system. Even if sprinkler or drip irrigation is not immediately feasible, efforts should be made to replace earthen canals with anti-seepage pipes or lined canals to deliver water directly and quickly to the fields. On this basis, small-plot irrigation or furrow irrigation should be promoted, dividing large fields into multiple small units, controlling the flow rate and duration of each irrigation, allowing water to penetrate evenly and slowly, avoiding deep percolation and waterlogging, and significantly improving water utilization efficiency.

Basic Idea Two: Promoting the upgrade from "experience-based" to "needs-based" irrigation, the core of which is precise irrigation based on the actual conditions of crops and soil. This involves changing the past habit of irrigating according to fixed days or simply following what neighbors do. The practical way to improve efficiency is to learn and apply simple soil moisture monitoring. Farmers can use empirical methods such as feeling the soil (to determine dryness or wetness) and observing crop leaves (for wilting), or use simple soil moisture meters, to determine whether irrigation is needed and how much water is required. At the same time, actively paying attention to weather forecasts and effectively combining irrigation with rainfall can avoid unnecessary irrigation before and after rainfall. This achieves "water supply on demand," preventing both water stress and excessive moisture that can lead to root damage and nutrient loss.

Basic Idea Three: Exploring the shift from "manual management" to "intelligent assistance," the core of which is using technology and facilities to free up labor and improve accuracy. For farmers or cooperatives with the necessary resources and needs, more efficient technological approaches can be gradually introduced. For example, simple valves and timers can be added to existing pipe irrigation systems to achieve automatic, timed, and quantitative water shut-off, preventing waste caused by forgetting to turn off the water. For high-value cash crops or protected agriculture, investing in drip or micro-sprinkler irrigation systems is the most direct and effective way to improve efficiency, as it delivers water and nutrients precisely to the roots, resulting in significant water and fertilizer savings. Furthermore, intelligent irrigation systems integrating soil sensors, weather stations, and automatic control valves can be explored to achieve automated and precise management.

In short, improving irrigation efficiency is a gradual process. For most farmland, starting with basic and low-cost methods such as improving water delivery channels, implementing small-plot irrigation, and learning to irrigate based on soil moisture levels can yield immediate results. The key is to cultivate an awareness of refined management, gradually abandoning extensive irrigation practices, and ensuring that every drop of water effectively serves crop growth.