What is cycle and soak in irrigation scheduling and why is it used?

What is cycle and soak in irrigation scheduling and why is it used?

• A. Dividing a run time into several shorter cycles with rest periods to improve infiltration and reduce runoff.
• B. Running the system continuously to ensure even watering.
• C. Cycle and soak refers to watering only during cycles of the moon.
• D. It's a method to fertigate.

Answer: (A)

Cycle and soak is a scheduling approach that divides the irrigation run time into several short cycles with rest periods in between. The idea is to give the soil time to absorb water between bursts, rather than dumping water all at once. Those soak breaks let water move down into the root zone instead of piling up at the surface, which reduces surface runoff and puddling and helps water reach evenly across the area. This method is used when the soil can’t absorb water quickly enough in one long cycle—such as when infiltration is slow, on sloped ground, or when applying water with a high-pressure or high-rate system. By spreading the application out, you get better infiltration, less erosion, and more uniform moisture distribution. The other options aren’t about this technique. Running the system continuously tends to cause runoff and uneven wetting. Watering according to lunar cycles doesn’t reflect how irrigation actually interacts with soil. Fertigation is about delivering nutrients through the irrigation, not about timing shorter cycles with rest periods.

Cycle and soak is a scheduling approach that divides the irrigation run time into several short cycles with rest periods in between. The idea is to give the soil time to absorb water between bursts, rather than dumping water all at once. Those soak breaks let water move down into the root zone instead of piling up at the surface, which reduces surface runoff and puddling and helps water reach evenly across the area.

This method is used when the soil can’t absorb water quickly enough in one long cycle—such as when infiltration is slow, on sloped ground, or when applying water with a high-pressure or high-rate system. By spreading the application out, you get better infiltration, less erosion, and more uniform moisture distribution.

The other options aren’t about this technique. Running the system continuously tends to cause runoff and uneven wetting. Watering according to lunar cycles doesn’t reflect how irrigation actually interacts with soil. Fertigation is about delivering nutrients through the irrigation, not about timing shorter cycles with rest periods.