Over-irrigation, while essential for the growth and intensification of agriculture, can inadvertently lead to numerous harmful effects on the environment. These potential risks include:
- Increased levels of erosion
- Contamination of surface and groundwater due to agricultural biocides
- Deterioration of water quality
- Enhanced levels of nutrients in irrigation and drainage water, leading to the growth of algal blooms, the spread of aquatic weeds, and the process of eutrophication in irrigation canals and downstream water bodies