What does drip irrigation do?
AnswerDelivers water slowly, close to plant roots
Drip irrigation uses tubes and emitters to release water slowly near the roots, reducing waste.
Nature · Facts & stats
Irrigation facts & stats
8 fact-checked facts about irrigation, each with the reason behind it. 4 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
Collecting rain from roofs into barrels or tanks for later use is called what?
AnswerRainwater harvesting
Rainwater harvesting captures runoff from surfaces like roofs to store it for gardens and other uses.
Going deeper
From the air, center-pivot irrigation gives farm fields what distinctive shape?
AnswerCircles
A center-pivot sprinkler arm rotates around a central point, watering a circular area.
What is a shaduf?
AnswerAn ancient lever device for lifting water
A shaduf is a pole with a bucket and counterweight, used since ancient times in Egypt and Mesopotamia to lift water.
Poorly drained irrigation can leave harmful minerals building up in soil. What is this called?
AnswerSalinization
When irrigation water evaporates it leaves dissolved salts behind, which can make soil less fertile.
In furrow irrigation, how does water reach the crops?
AnswerIt flows along small channels between rows
Furrow irrigation lets water run down shallow trenches dug between crop rows.
Expert level
The qanat, an underground channel that carries groundwater to the surface by gravity, originated in which region?
AnswerAncient Persia (Iran)
Qanats were developed in ancient Persia and spread across the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
What is 'evapotranspiration'?
AnswerWater lost by evaporation from soil plus transpiration from plants
Evapotranspiration combines evaporation and plant transpiration and helps estimate how much water crops need.
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