what is runoff from irrigation systems and how does it effect the environment?
469275
An irrigation system waters a field of crops from a well or other source.  The adverse effect on the environment comes from the run off, the excess water that doesn't absorb into the ground.  It eventually runs into streams or lakes and the fertilizer that had been put down on the crops earlier is washed into the water ways along with the runoff.  Also the dirt can be washed out also, if the water is put down too heavy.
794
When I was an undergraduate I did an experiment with some classmates in a blant biology lab class related to this question.  We collected soil from two areas: one area that received drainage from a local copper mine, and one close area that didn't receive the drainage.  We put the soil in water to extract the contents and used the water to water some wheatgrass seeds.  The grass watered with the extract of the drainage soil was different in color, shorter, and had fewer root hairs, as I recall.  In other words, it was less healthy.  In our experiment, then, the type of water definitely had an effect on the growth of the grass.
640692
The movement of water around, over, and through the Earth is called the water cycle.The water cycle—technically known as the hydrologic cycle—is the continuous circulation of water within the Earth's hydrosphere, and is driven by solar radiation. This includes the atmosphere, land, surface water and groundwater. As water moves through the cycle, it changes state between liquid, solid, and gas phases. Water moves from compartment to compartment, such as from river to ocean, by the physical processes of evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and subsurface flow. Movement of water within the water cycle is the subject of the field of hydrology.
435225
--Humans cut down forests and woodlands and plough the soil for agricultural purposes to produce more food. This decreases photosynthesis and there is less utilization of CO2 and so the atmospheric CO2 increases in concentration, hence disturbing the carbon cycle and leading to global warming.\n--Due to the increasing human population, more vehicles are now in use and the car exhaust release more of pollutant gases including CO2, and so the concentration of CO2 in air increases.\n--Excessive combustion of fossil fuels also release CO2 in the atmosphere and increase its concentration. This leads to global warming which has the following effects: (1) Melting of polar ice caps due to increased temperature, resulting in floods. (2) Evaporation of water from water bodies, altering the rainfall pattern and climatic conditions. (3) More evaporation of water from the soil, leading to drought and famine.\nHowever, and increase in temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis. Hence more of 02 is evolved and the cycle can be brought back to normal.
142089
Rain water is good for plants. Put a barrel or bucket out to capture rain water, add a bit of bagged manure from the garden section,let it sit and use that water for your plants. They will grow spectacularly :)\nTap water has been treated and lost all of it's natural minerals.\nWell water is a very good water source also as it has all it's natural minerals.
225058
The flowers, plants, animals that live in the wild, the soil needs a lil water from time to time. So allot of benefits come from rain. Now if it rains for a week and floods everywhere like it is here now I wanna know what benefits comes from that? Besides wasting gas to go the long way to town, work, run errands etc...
987450
The transfer of water from a stream, lake, aquifer, or other source of water by a canal, pipe, well, or other conduit to another watercourse or to the land. \n\nhttp://www.cec.org/files/pdf/sem/06-2-SUB_en.pdf\n\nhttp://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/mnenvironment/winter2006/diversion.html\n\nhttp://www.energybulletin.net/16208.html\n\nhttp://www.srbc.net/diversionpolicy.htm
32744
Hi !!!\n\n"Water harvesting is simply collecting rainwater that falls on your property and then putting it to use around your home or yard-- that's all there is to it!\n\nMany Pima County homeowners use rainwater to irrigate trees, lawns and other landscaping. You can substantially lower your water bill, help reduce local flooding and reduce landscaping and property maintenance needs--- all by putting water harvesting ideas to use around your home. Whether you're building a new home on an single lot, designing a major subdivision, or just making a few improvements around your yard, water harvesting can be easily incorporated into your plans." >http://rfcd.pima.gov/wh/\n\nThough the above article refers to a certain place, it is for every one and please remove the word and understand the data.  Please go through the website for lot of details.  \n\nUseful links:\n\nhttp://www.aboutrainwaterharvesting.com\nhttp://rfcd.pima.gov/wh/\nhttp://www.sustainable.com.au/rainwater.html\nhttp://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/\nhttp://rfcd.pima.gov/wh/\n\n\nI hope this helps.\n\n\n>>> Naveen Kumar
405069
Honestly, the effects are endless. I'm currently working on this topic for my Master's (that what I should be doing right now) and when you really start to delve into the study of it, it's really quite disgusting because it affects everything we rely on to live.  But to sum it up, when the land is polluted, it really leads to pollution, destruction, and loss of everything else. The pollution makes it way into our water sources, kills plants, and  consequently, that is one cause that leads to the loss of animal species.  Polluted land is often treated with chemicals to "clean it up" that ends up in the soil and poisons our food sources.  The issue really is complex, but I encourage you to study it further.  You won't look at this world the same.
527085
water is a natural resource and we use it foe almost everything, soil is anouther natural resource and u should know wat we use it for, things like that r natural resources
933095
Well water can over time through a process called weathering, other than that acid is excellent, that is how acid rain is effecting us.\nAlso salt and a number of other chemicals and solvents.
800189
If I am understanding your question, then I believe drip irrigation is what you are looking for.  The initial setup is more expensive than traditional flood or spray irrigation however it is more water efficient.  The following links contain further info and a search on any search engine will yield even more.\n\nhttp://www.cropinfo.net/drip.htm\nhttp://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/04702.html\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drip_irrigation
848766
It could provide a steady flow of down stream water for crops and farming i.e. never flood and never a drought.\nFloods wipe out crops and crops can't grow without water
836785
Typically, headwaters only experience recharge, but a local depression in the land surface can create a window into the groundwater, usually in the form of a lake or swamp.  Water here can flow downstream, and thus can add to discharge.
1129951
When it rains, it can do one of two things... be absorbed into the ground OR runoff into low-lying areas.\n\nSeveral factors can determine whether rain will become groundwater or runoff.\n\n1.)Type of soil - sandy soils are more porous and allows water to pass through more easily than those such as clay soils. Therefore soil type will determine drainage.\n2.)Type & amount of vegetation - Vegetation can either allow runoff by inhibiting drainage or can allow for the slow down of water movement which would allow it to be absorbed. It just depends on how much & the type.\n3.)Slope/steepness of an area - steeper areas are more likely to lead to runoff rather than absorbtion.\n4.)Ground saturation levels - if the ground is already saturated w/ water it will not hold anymore & will lead to runoff.\n\nDepth can be determined by...\n1.)Depth of bedrock or basement rock - This could be a nonporous/impermeable rock which just means that it won't allow water to move through. If the bedrock type won't allow drainage then that is where the water will stop.\n2.)The depth of the water table - if the water table is deeper, then the deeper the water will have to travel before reaching it.
1042930
The water cycle — technically known as the hydrologic cycle — is the continuous circulation of water within the Earth's hydrosphere, and is driven by solar radiation. This includes the atmosphere, land, surface water and groundwater. As water moves through the cycle, it changes state between liquid, solid, and gas phases. Water moves from compartment to compartment, such as from river to ocean, by the physical processes of evaporation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and subsurface flow. Movement of water within the water cycle is the subject of the field of hydrology.
460879
What your actually thinking of are baffles. These cause the water to travel in a zig zag way or even perpendicular to flow direction. This slows the water by taking its Kinetic Energy and so reduces wear on other structures or machinery