Introduction; description and operation of non-mechanized sprinkler irrigation systems; reasons for mechanizing and automating sprinkler irrigation; ways and means used to facilitate the operation of sprinkler systems;irrigation with a boom-sprinkler; towed laterals; irrigation system using towed gun-sprinklers to change the set;wheel-mounted sprinkler laterals with a pipe-driven frontal movement; whel-mounted sprinkler laterals driven with a shaft independent of the pipe; irrigation machines carrying sprinkler lines and self-moved during one set of watering; irrigation machines automatically moving the watering unit from one set to the next; irrigation machines moving automatically while irrigating continuous strips of land; centre pivot irrigation; sprinklerlaterals with continuous frontal movement during watering;fixed irrigation systems; comparing sprinkler irrigation systems; conclusions.

Introduction; description and operation of non-mechanized sprinkler irrigation systems; reasons for mechanizing and automating sprinkler irrigation; ways and means used to facilitate the operation of sprinkler systems;irrigation with a boom-sprinkler; towed laterals; irrigation system using towed gun-sprinklers to change the set;wheel-mounted sprinkler laterals with a pipe-driven frontal movement; whel-mounted sprinkler laterals driven with a shaft independent of the pipe; irrigation machines carrying sprinkler lines and self-moved during one set of watering; irrigation machines automatically moving the watering unit from one set to the next; irrigation machines moving automatically while irrigating continuous strips of land; centre pivot irrigation; sprinklerlaterals with continuous frontal movement during watering;fixed irrigation systems; comparing sprinkler irrigation systems; conclusions.

This manual (most of whose modules were originally published 2001-2002) aims at strengthening various aspects of irrigation development, mainly emphasizing the engineering, agronomic and economic aspects of smallholder irrigation, in view of the limited practical references available in this area. It also introduces the irrigation practitioner to the social, health and environmental aspects, providing a bridge between the various disciplines involved in irrigation development.--Publisher's description.