Irrigation and Rainfed Agriculture
There are two main ways farmers and ranchers use agricultural water to grow crops:
rainfed agriculture
irrigation
Rainfed agriculture is the natural application of water to the soil through direct rainfall. Relying on rainfall is unlikely to lead to food contamination, but water shortages can occur when rainfall decreases. On the other hand, artificial water increases the risk of contamination.
photo of sprinklers irrigating fields
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil through various pipes, pumps and spray systems. Irrigation is often used in areas with irregular rainfall or dry times or expected drought. There are many types of irrigation systems in which water is evenly distributed throughout the field. Irrigation water can come from groundwater, springs or wells, surface water, rivers, lakes or reservoirs, or even other sources such as treated wastewater or desalinated water. Therefore, it is critical that farmers protect their agricultural water sources to minimize the potential for contamination. As with any groundwater removal, users of irrigation water need to be careful not to pump groundwater out of the aquifer faster than it can be replenished.
