The effects could be either beneficial or harmful to the soil, while separately affecting its short term crop productivity. Long-term damage to the soil, however, will result in decline of soil productivity. Erosion Any irrigation will decided role in the structure of a soil. The effects could be either beneficial or harmful to the soil, while separately affecting its short term crop productivity. Long-term damage to the soil, however, will result in decline of soil productivity, and regardless of the initial bountiful harvests crop yield will decrease.
Erosion is a substantial contributor to deterioration of soil quality.
Flood and furrow irrigation use a high influx of water to immerse the crop area. This excess wetting allows larger areas to be farmed with a smaller amount of labor. As application rate increases faster than rate of infiltration, however, the resulting runoff carries much of the topsoil from the pedon. This efficiency creates an irrigation method well suited for deficit irrigation in arid regions. Surface drainage is a necessity in the removal of water from furrow and flood irrigation.