The ground water has to be pumped to the surface from wells in order to get to the farms. There are four main methods of applying the water to the crops. The first is surface irrigation. In the flood irrigation method, the farmer runs water over the surface of the field and there are dikes that hold the water on the field. The second surface method is furrow irrigation.
Furrow irrigation is used for crops planted in rows.
Furrows are dug across the field and seeds are planted between the furrows. As water is let into the furrows it seeps into the ridges. The second method of irrigation is called sprinkler irrigation. Water is pumped through the sprinkler heads in a spray or mist to water the crops. The next method is trickle irrigation.