5.5 Irrigation

Why is irrigation considered important in agriculture?

• It reduces pesticide use

• It increases soil pH

• It makes dry land suitable for farming

• It prevents erosion

Which irrigation method involves filling trenches along crop rows with water?

• Drip irrigation

• Spray irrigation

• Flood irrigation

• Furrow irrigation

Which irrigation method is only suitable for water-tolerant crops like rice or cranberries?

• Drip irrigation

• Furrow irrigation

• Flood irrigation

• Spray irrigation

Which method of irrigation is most water-efficient?

• Flood irrigation

• Furrow irrigation

• Spray irrigation

• Drip irrigation

What problem occurs when soil becomes overly saturated with water?

• Soil erosion

• Soil salinization

• Waterlogging

• Leaching

How can soil aeration help with waterlogging?

• It increases plant temperature

• It adds fertilizer

• It allows oxygen and water to penetrate soil

• It filters out pollutants

What is the main cause of soil salinization?

• Acid rain

• Overuse of chemical fertilizers

• Evaporation of groundwater used for irrigation

• Urban development

What sector uses the most freshwater globally?

• Municipal

• Industry

• Domestic

• Agriculture

Why are confined aquifers more prone to overuse?

• They are near the surface

• They refill quickly

• They have limited recharge areas and recharge slowly

• They contain less water than unconfined aquifers