Fresh water is taken out of a river, lake or reservoir and transported through an open canal system to the farm field and applied as a sheet of water with the help of gravity to spread over the land. Losses of fresh water occur through evaporation, seepage and inefficient water management.

Sprinkler irrigation is a method of applying irrigation water that mimics natural rainfall. Water is distributed through a system of pipes usually by pumping. It is then sprayed into the air through sprinklers so that it breaks up into small water drops that fall to the ground.

Furrow irrigation is a type of surface irrigation in which water is released into the furrows, often using gravity, and it seeps vertically and horizontally to enrich the soil moisture. Alternate furrow irrigation results in a reduction of water application, without significantly affecting yield and tmore efficient water use.

Drip irrigation systems commonly use tubes that are placed on the soil surface next to the crop to apply irrigation water with high precision. Due to the application of water nearer to the root zone of the crop, the unproductive evaporation from the surrounding land is avoided.

Subsurface drip irrigation is where a low- pressure, high efficiency irrigation system uses buried drip tubes or drip tape to meet crop water needs at the soil-root interface itself. 

The simplest irrigation strategy is full irrigation, i.e., irrigate to meet the full evapotranspiration needs of the plant throughout the growing season. When insufficient water is available for irrigation, a farmer can either opt for a partial irrigation to all his crop lands, or irrigate only a portion of the farm field. 

Supplemental irrigation is the application of water at critical growth stages where rainfall is not adequate to support the full plant growth. Provision of supplemental irrigation if the monsoon is delayed and at flowering and boll formation, can result in higher yields than the rainfed system.

Deficit irrigation is the practice of applying less water than the full crop water requirements. Cotton can be grown under controlled water stress (deficit irrigation) without severe negative impacts on its yield and sometimes with an improvement in the quality of cotton fibre.

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Mulching is the application of natural and/or synthetic material to cover the soil surface. Applying mulchduring the plant’s early growth stage provides more benefitsthan application at the late growth stage. Organic mulch is relatively low cost compared to synthetic mulch.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and other micro-nutrients must be available to plants during different growth stages to ensure optimal yields. These can come from synthetic or organic sources.. Measuring soil fertility will avoid excessive or improper timing of application of nutrients.

Preserving and enhancing populations of beneficial organisms. Prevention of pest population build-up. Ensuring a healthy crop that can withstand some degree of damage. Regular monitoring of the crop for pests, beneficial insects and crop damage. Managing the crop to early maturity to reduce the length of time the crop is exposed to pests.

Choosing pesticides that have a lower toxicity, avoiding highly toxic substances and selecting pesticides that are effective against a number of different pests will minimise negative impacts from pesticide use. If there is an organic alternative, this should be used.