Floodbed irrigation

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