**3.2 Sprinkler irrigation system**

Sprinkler irrigation involves watering plants through a process that imitates natural rainfall. Water is sprinkled into the air through a series of pipes to form droplets before landing over leaves and areas within reach. The water is sprayed through a high-pressure sprinkler or guns. Though, sprinkler irrigation can be used on different land slopes; it is mostly used on flat ground such as lawns, golf courses, crops, landscapes, and flat terrains. There are different types of sprinkler irrigation systems, these include centre pivot system, rain gun system, side roll system, perforated pipe system and rotating head system (**Figure 4**). Each system is made up of the following components: pump unit, mainline, laterals, and sprinklers. The pump unit takes water from the source while the laterals distribute water from the pump unit to the sprinklers. To ensure efficient delivery of water, several sprinklers must be operated close together, ensuring an overlap of distribution patterns, since the heaviest water application is close to the sprinkler.

In a central pivot system, the machine moves in the shape of a circle, and water is sprayed on the crops beneath the circle. A rain gun system necessitates the use of a high-pressure machine that shoots water into the sky and dropped it on the farm in the form of rain. Side roll systems are made up of pipes attached to the middle of a

*Fundamentals of Irrigation Methods and Their Impact on Crop Production DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.105501*

#### **Figure 4.**

*Types of sprinkler irrigation system: Centre pivot system (A), rain gun system (B), side roll system (C), perforated pipe system (D) rotating head system (E).*

wheel, which is perforated to drop water on the crops below as the wheel rolls across the field. In a perforated drain pipe system, a pipe is perforated to allow water to drain out of it; whereas, a rotating head system makes use of a pipe with spraying head nozzles to water the field. The application rates of sprinklers differ depending on their nozzle size, spray radii, and operating pressure.

Sprinkler irrigation is adaptable to most soil types but it is preferable for sandy soil with low water holding capacity. The water droplets wet both the soil and the crops and are accessible through uptake by the root and foliar penetration. However, sediment-free water is required to avoid blockage of the nozzle.
