How does flood irrigation work?

Flood irrigation is a method of applying water to a crop in which the whole field or defined sections of a field are flooded with water. Water is delivered from an open channel, a pipe, or a pump and then slowly released onto the field. This allows the soil to absorb the water at a slower rate and for a longer period of time, leading to better water absorption and conservation of water.

The entire area is usually under several inches of water and is left that way for anywhere from two days to two weeks, depending on the plants’ water needs. This type of irrigation is often used on crops that need longer periods of standing water, such as rice and cotton.