Drainage Recovery from Irrigation

In the practice of irrigation a part of the water applied sinks below the zone of plant growth and is wasted. It is possible, in many instances, to recover a portion of this underground waste through drainage. The quantity that can be recovered depends largely on the character of the underground formation. The feasibility of recovering irrigation wastes through drainage depends on the cost of draining the water out of the subsoil and its value at the point where it can be collected and discharged. On areas where drainage is necessary to protect soils from becoming water-logged and alkaline, the value, if any, of the water recovered is a net gain.