Floodbed irrigation

It consists of applying water to plots that are generally rectangular, with almost no slope, surrounded by ridges, ridges or copings that prevent the water from passing to other fields. The water layer on the ground is relatively large, from 100 to 150 mm, and can be greater when the irregularity of the surface requires it or when flowerbeds are used following the contour lines, which must be able to collect rainwater without being destroyed. In general, its shape depends on the slope of the land; on flat surfaces, wide and short flowerbeds are used, almost square, 10 to 20 m wide and 20 to 40 m long. On the other hand, when the slope is gentle, the flowerbeds are rectangular, narrow and elongated, 3 to 7 m wide and 40 to 80 m long. A modernization process for these systems consists of lowering the water table after vegetative growth is complete or, in warm climates where the water table is not required for temperature control, replacing flooding with maintaining the soil close to saturation.