irrigable

Irrigable is an adjective used to describe land that can be irrigated. It refers to areas where artificial application of water to crops is technically feasible and economically justifiable, given the presence of water resources, adequate infrastructure, and appropriate management. In agricultural planning, irrigable land is distinguished from land that is naturally rain-fed (dryland) and from land that is already irrigated.

Assessments of irrigability consider climate, soil, slope, drainage, and water availability. Key factors include a mean annual rainfall deficit, soil permeability and water-holding capacity, soil salinity, drainage conditions, and the feasibility of delivering water through canals, pumps, or other irrigation systems. Local topography and groundwater availability influence whether irrigation is practical.

Even when land is irrigable, realization depends on factors such as water rights, cost of irrigation, energy or fuel supply, maintenance, and environmental constraints. Irrigable land can change status over time as technology advances, water resources shift, or policy changes alter access to irrigation.

In land surveys and agricultural planning, irrigable land is often mapped as a category to inform decisions about development, crop selection, and resource management. The term is commonly used in hydrological and agronomic literature and may be contrasted with non-irrigable or rain-fed land.