Question

Followings are the statements related to water saving in drip irrigation. Identify the statement that is NOT correct.

• A. Only a part of the field is wetted during irrigation
• B. Deep percolation losses are minimized
• C. Surface runoff is minimized
• D. Crop water requirement is reduced

Hint:

Never confuse "Irrigation Water Requirement" with "Crop Water Requirement". Drip irrigation reduces the *irrigation water requirement* (by eliminating losses), but the biological *crop water requirement* remains unchanged.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Drip (micro) irrigation is a highly efficient irrigation method that applies water slowly and directly to the plant root zone through emitters.
It saves water by minimizing physical water losses rather than changing the physiological needs of the crop.
Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze the given statements:
- Option (A): Only a part of the field is wetted during irrigation: This is correct. Drip irrigation only wets the soil around the root zone, reducing evaporation from the surrounding bare soil.
- Option (B): Deep percolation losses are minimized: This is correct. Water is applied at a low rate matching the soil infiltration capacity, which prevents water from percolating below the root zone.
- Option (C): Surface runoff is minimized: This is correct. Low application rates prevent water accumulation and surface runoff.
- Option (D): Crop water requirement is reduced: This is incorrect. The crop water requirement (evapotranspiration needed for healthy crop growth) is a physiological and climatological constant for a given crop in a given region. Drip irrigation does not alter the plant's physiological water needs; it simply maximizes application efficiency by eliminating losses.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is Option (D).