Spreading methods

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• Flooding: water is spread as a thin sheet, which moves at a minimum velocity to avoid disturbance of the soil cover. It is only suitable for flat topography.
• Ditch and Furrow system: a system of shallow, flat bottomed and closely spaced ditches and furrows is installed through which water is introduced and allowed to infiltrate. This technique is suitable for both flat and irregular topography.
• Excess irrigation method: in irrigated areas, water can be deliberately spread by irrigating cropland with excess water during dormant or non-irrigating seasons.
• Reverse drainage method: water is piped into underground networks of perforated drainage conduits, from which water infiltrates the soil. This technique is desirable where land is expensive, because it has a negligible effect on surface land use.
• Infiltration basins: basins are either excavated, or are enclosed by dikes or levees which retain the recharge water until it has infiltrated through the floor of the basin.

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