- It adds water to the soil to supply the moisture essential for the plant growth.
- It saves the crops from drying during short-duration droughts.
- It cools the soil and the atmosphere and thus makes a more favourable environment for healthy plant growth.
- It washes out or dilutes salts in the soil.
- It softens the tillage pans and reduces the hazard of soil piping.
- Irrigation would reduce the erosion risk within the basin and also increase the opportunities for enhancing biodiversity values
- Irrigation increases the risk of contamination of ground and surface waters and could adversely impact landscape values.
- Wind erosion is a significant issue in the upper catchment area.
- Water quality in most ground & surface water bodies within the upper catchment is generally very good. However, under a scenario where it is likely that significant quantities of nitrogen will be added to the system. So it is an intensification of land use the risks of nutrient and faucal contamination of waterways increase significantly.
- Excess irrigation and unscientific use of irrigation water may give rise to a number of ill effects on the environment;.
- Breeding places for mosquitoes: due to excess application of water, and due to leakage of water, ponds, canals and depressions get filled up with water and create breeding places for mosquitoes spreading malarial conditions.
- Water-logging: if the water table is near the ground surface, over-irrigation may raise the water table. This saturates the crop root-zone completely, causes efflorescence and the whole area becomes waterlogged.
- Damp climate: damp and cold areas become damper and colder due to irrigation.
Environment impacts due to irrigation
