How to Improve Water Use Efficiency in Agriculture

Using water efficiently in agriculture is vital for the proper growth of your crops. And as most parts of the world face from water shortage, it is really important that each one of us take proper steps to improve the water use efficiency when it comes to agriculture. If you are really interested in improving the irrigation in agriculture then today I am sharing some of my personal experiences and tips that will surely help you to improve water use efficiency in agriculture.

water use agriculture

  • Consider the type of water you use:

Many of us use water softener systems in our homes and most of the water softener reviews claim that softened water is beneficial for human consumption. Softened water is actually good is normal day to day use. Softened water helps keep human sin soft and clean, it helps in washing and also prevents any damages to water-based appliances that we use in everyday lives like the washing machine.

However, softened water means that the natural minerals and other elements are removed from the water to make it more suitable for human-oriented consumption. And as you might already know, plants rely very much on the natural minerals that are present in the water we use for irrigation. Therefore, softened water is not something you should use for agricultural irrigation.

You can use untreated water for agricultural irrigation to help the crops gain from the natural minerals and other elements that are present in the untreated water. However, from my personal experience, I would suggest everyone implement rainwater harvesting if possible and directly use the rainwater for agricultural irrigation. There is no other better source of minerals than natural rainwater and therefore it is indeed the best water you can use for agricultural purposes.

  • Be informed of the type of crop:

Even though water is the essential element for the growth of any crop, the actual water quantity, and quality that you need to use differs from each and every crop. So, it is also really important that you are well informed on the type of crop that you are growing.

The amount of water required for each crop differs and that again depends on a variety of factors like the soil used, the temperature of the area where the crop is grown and the wind scenario in the region. Each crop also requires a different amount of water during each stage of its growth. Generally, crops require more water in the initial stages.

agriculture water use


  • Know the type of soil used in the field:

Another important aspect you should consider when it comes to improving the water use efficiency in agriculture is the type of soil that you are using for growing the crop. But how does the type of soil matter?

Well, each type of soil have their own characteristics and that include the maximum amount of water that it can hold, the number of organic elements present in the soil, the amount of salinity in the soil and so on. Each soil type also has a different soil intake rate which is basically the rate at which water can infiltrate deep into the soil to reach the crops properly.

  • Use a proper scheduled irrigation system:

Once you know all the factors that can help you in estimating the amount of water required for your crops, it is also important that you only provide the required amount of water to the soil and that too in a proper scheduled manner.

You can make use of scheduled irrigation systems like a programmed sprinkler which can help you in irrigating the crops in a timely manner without you having to manually take on the job. Also, unnecessary water loss can also be prevented when a proper irrigation system is used and you can also ensure that irrigation beyond the requirement of the crop or the holding capacity of the soil does not happen.

I have tried to mention some of the really important aspects when it comes to improving the water use efficiency in agriculture. Hope this article was informative to you and in case you wish to add some of your own personal experiences when it comes to improving water use efficiency in agriculture, please do leave them as comments below.

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