GS Question

Water-use efficiency refers to the amount of water needed to produce a given output or to support a certain activity. It is measured by looking at the amount of water consumed or lost in relation to the beneficial use achieved.

Micro-irrigation, also known as drip irrigation, is a technique that delivers water directly to the roots of plants through a system of tubes or pipes with small emitters. This method allows for precise, localized water application, resulting in significant water savings compared to traditional irrigation methods like flood or sprinkler systems.

Micro-irrigation increases water-use efficiency in several ways:

1. Reduced evaporation and runoff: By delivering water directly to the root zone, micro-irrigation minimizes evaporation losses and runoff, which are common with surface irrigation methods. This ensures that a higher proportion of the water applied is actually used by the plants.

2. Targeted delivery: Micro-irrigation systems can be designed to deliver water precisely where it is needed, avoiding unnecessary wetting of non-target areas such as paths or unplanted areas. This eliminates water wastage and ensures that plants receive the required amount of water without excess.

3. Reduced weed competition: Since micro-irrigation only supplies water to the root zone, it limits the availability of water to weeds. This reduces weed growth, which in turn decreases competition for water resources.

4. Reduced leaching: Micro-irrigation applies water slowly and in small amounts, allowing for better water infiltration and decreasing the likelihood of excessive water percolating below the root zone. This reduces leaching of nutrients and potentially harmful chemicals into groundwater, leading to higher water-use efficiency.

5. Decreased need for labor and energy: Micro-irrigation systems can be automated and controlled, requiring minimal manual labor and reducing the energy required for irrigation. This further enhances water-use efficiency by optimizing water application and reducing wastage.

In summary, micro-irrigation plays a vital role in increasing water-use efficiency by minimizing water losses due to evaporation, runoff, and non-target wetting. It enables precise water delivery, reduces weed competition, limits leaching, and reduces labor and energy requirements. These factors make micro-irrigation an environmentally sustainable and efficient approach to irrigation, conserving water resources and maximizing agricultural productivity.