NCERT Book Class 8 EVS Judicious use of water in irrigation

13. Judicious use of water in irrigation

Background

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops. Irrigation has been around for as long as humans have been cultivating plants, although the means of irrigation have changed. Pouring water from buckets has been replaced by more efficient and mechanised methods. These methods have provided the farmers with easy availability of water as a result of which water is often wasted. Alongwith it, over watering is also the cause of soil erosion, excessive displacement of the top soil that affects soil fertility, raising of water table, converting fertile fields into waste land, leaching of nutrients which, in turn, leads to downgraded product quality and reduced yield.

Methodology

Interview persons of different age groups and find out –

1. The means of irrigation used when he/she was a child of 15 years of age.

2. List the tools used at that time.

3. Are the tools different from the ones used today?

4. Try to see for yourself the tools, methods and techniques being employed for irrigation at present. Draw pictures/ take photographs, if possible.

5. Find out whether the water availability has increased due to the modern means of irrigation.

6. Do the modern means of irrigation have an effect on the environment? Are all the impacts healthy?

7. Has easy availability of water also increased the misuse/ wastage of water?

Conclusion

Prepare a report on your findings suggesting measures for reducing wastage of water in irrigation.

Follow-up

Share your observation with other people, including farmers of your area

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 8 EVS Judicious use of water in irrigation