Water is becoming an increasingly precious resource for farmers. Rising costs and unpredictable rainfall make efficient irrigation more important than ever. The good news: you can save a lot without buying new equipment. Here are five practical tips you can start this week.

Farmer checking soil moisture before irrigating — Check soil moisture first — don’t water by habit.

1) Irrigate by soil moisture, not by schedule

Before turning on the pump, dig a small hole or use a simple trowel test. If the soil forms a loose ball and stains your palm, you can usually wait. If it crumbles like dust, it’s time to irrigate.

Target: keep root-zone moisture around field capacity, not saturated.
Morning checks reduce evaporation and help plan your day efficiently.

2) Fix the silent leaks

Walk along your irrigation lines weekly. Tighten couplings, replace cracked hoses, and cap unused outlets. Even small drips can waste thousands of liters over a season.

3) Mulch to reduce evaporation

Organic mulch such as straw, rice husk, or chopped prunings helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and ensure crops make the best use of applied water.

4) Use furrow cutoffs

For surface irrigation, close furrows as soon as water reaches the end. This simple habit prevents runoff losses and reduces tail-water accumulation.

5) Measure what you use (rough estimates are fine)

Note pump runtime × flow rate, or track tank volume changes. Keeping a basic water log helps identify waste and adjust irrigation schedules according to weather.

Bottom line: Measure a little, mulch a bit, and irrigate when the soil — not the calendar — tells you. These simple changes protect yields and save water fast.