2.4. Based on the Way the Water is Applied

The classification of the irrigation systems can also be based on the way the water is applied to the agricultural land as:

♤ Flow irrigation system: where the irrigation water is conveyed by growing to the irrigated land. This may again be classified into the following.

o Direct irrigation: Where the irrigation water is obtained directly from the river, without

any intermediate storage. This type of irrigation is possible by constructing a weir or a barrage across a river to raise the level of the river water and thus divert some portion of the river flow through an adjacent canal, where the flow takes place by gravity.

o Reservoir/tank/storage irrigation: The irrigation water is obtained from a river, where

storage has been created by construction an obstruction across the river, like a dam. This ensures that even when there is no inflow into the river from the catchment, there is enough stored water which can continue to irrigate fields through a system of canals.

♤ Lift irrigation system: Where the irrigation water is available at a level lower than that of the

land to be irrigated and hence the water is lifted up by pumps or by other mechanical devices for lifting water and conveyed to the agricultural land through channels flowing under gravity. For instance, a large portion of Indira Gandhi canal in Rajasthan is fed by lift irrigation system.