Originally, the falaj developed where higher elevation water sources such as springs, qanats or surface water could be intercepted by diversion or small catchment dams and then conveyed by gravity to the point of use. More recently, however, dug wells have been used to supplement the falaj water. This is especially the case in the coastal areas where many hand-dug wells and tubewells have been constructed. Most of the area consists of small schemes. These costs represent the average cost of installing sprinkler irrigation and micro-irrigation systems.
Date palm is the main crop grown in Oman, occupying about half the total cropped area.
No reliable information on the area salinized by irrigation is available. No drainage is practiced. In 1988, Royal Decree No. This is the most far-reaching and important piece of legislation on water resources. Several water conservation initiatives have been developed, like leakage control in municipal water supply schemes and the improvement of irrigation methods through subsidy programmes.