Question

Under which of the following conditions, drip irrigation is suited ?
(A) Close-growing crops
(B) Widely spaced crops
(C) Undulating lands with a high infiltration rate
(D) Saline irrigation water

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• C. (A), (B), (C) and (D).
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient irrigation system, achieving water application efficiencies of up to $90\%\text{ to }95\%$.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Drip irrigation (micro-irrigation) delivers water slowly and directly to the plant root zone through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.
This highly efficient system is suited for specific crops, terrains, and water qualities.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate each condition:
- (A) Close-growing crops: Crops like wheat, ragi, and rice are planted very close together. Installing drip lines for these crops requires an extremely dense network of tubing, making it economically unfeasible. Therefore, drip irrigation is generally not suited for close-growing crops.
- (B) Widely spaced crops: Fruit orchards, vegetables, and cash crops (like cotton) grow with wider spacing. Drip irrigation is highly suited for these configurations, as emitters can be precisely aligned with each plant to prevent water waste. (True)
- (C) Undulating lands with high infiltration: In hilly terrains or sandy soils, surface flooding causes high runoff or deep percolation losses. Drip irrigation manages this by applying water slowly at a rate that matches the soil's absorption capacity, regardless of terrain. (True)
- (D) Saline irrigation water: Keeping soil moisture constant near the root zone dilutes salt concentration and pushes salts to the margins of the wet zone, protecting plants from salt stress. (True)
Therefore, conditions (B), (C), and (D) are correct.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (B), (C), and (D) only, corresponding to option (D).