Water Use in Agriculture

1) Drip Irrigation

Pros:

• Prevents weeds from germinating nearby

• Keeping the moisture at soil level reduces water loss to wind and evaporation

• Even distribution of moisture so there would be no muddy or drought areas

Cons:

• Poor root development if installation is not proper

• Still need periodic flushing to remove mineral buildup, need to constantly check for any blockages so water pressure does not build up within the tubing and damage entire system

• Looping the tube too wide or installing a small quantity of water might create drought

2) Sprinkler

Pros:

• Can cover large areas

• Can be adjustable as conditions/weather change

• Easily controllable

Cons:

• Can be costly depending on size of property

• Portions of the area wil have to be dug up to install pipework and and attach to plumbing system from the house

• Weather, such as wind, can direct water in the wrong direction

- I believe that farmers should use drip irrigation because it can evenly distribute water and moisture to the area and reduce water loss. On the other hand, sprinklers might not be able to do so due to weather such as the wind directing the water in the wrong direction. 

The cons from drip irrigation can easily be fixed if the installation is proper and you check perodically for mineral buildup. However, sprinklers can cost highly and put damage to the area as you need to dig up to install pipework. 

In conclusion, drip irrigation is the best method to use because of its efficient distribution of water!