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Editing Irrigation

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[[File:irrigation_preview.png|thumb|270px|right|It's like Gatorade for plants.]]'''Irrigation''' is the process of applying water to terrain - making it muddy, in order to make it suitable for farming, where it otherwise wouldn't be. [[Farming]] is only possible on [[mud]] and [[soil]]. In ''Dwarf Fortress'', 'irrigation' is used as a fancy word for dumping water onto terrain for farming purposes. Once your floor is successfully muddied, no further irrigation will be required, unless you somehow accidentally remove the mud (by building a [[construction|constructed]] floor or chopping down a [[tree]], for instance). Please note that irrigating Soil will not improve the quality (ie. irrigated Sand will still be poor quality, while irrigated Rock is standard quality).
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[[farm plot|Farming]] is only possible on [[mud]] and soil. Any terrain can be made muddy, and therefore suitable for farming, by dumping water on it. In Dwarf Fortress, 'Irrigation' is used as a fancy word for dumping water onto terrain that isn't useful for farming, in order to make it so. Once your floor is successfully muddied no further irrigation will be required, unless you somehow remove the mud (by building a [[construct]]ed floor, for instance).
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Any amount of water dropped, pumped, or otherwise transported onto a tile will leave behind at least 'a dusting of mud', and this is sufficient for farming. Farm plots cannot be built on terrain with [[water depth|a water level of more than 1/7]], and more mud has no apparent effect on farm output, so it's best to use a minimum of water to irrigate.
 
Any amount of water dropped, pumped, or otherwise transported onto a tile will leave behind at least 'a dusting of mud', and this is sufficient for farming. Farm plots cannot be built on terrain with [[water depth|a water level of more than 1/7]], and more mud has no apparent effect on farm output, so it's best to use a minimum of water to irrigate.
  
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Irrigation is especially useful in [[biome]]s with little soil, and deep underground. However, no amount of irrigation will make it possible to grow surface plants in a hostile [[biome]], such as [[mountain]]s-this is a matter of climate, not soil conditions.
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Irrigation is especially useful in [[biome|biomes]] with little soil, and deep underground. However, no amount of irrigation will make it possible to grow surface plants in a hostile [[biome]], such as mountains. This is a matter of climate, not soil conditions.
  
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Farm plots which overlap unsuitable ground will be irregularly-shaped, but still usable. (However, note that when placing an outdoor farm plot, the game will always erroneously report that there is no usable mud/soil. This is a bug - if the plot is green it will function correctly.)
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Farm plots can be built on unsuitable ground but doing so will display a warning message. If even a one tile of the plot lacks mud or soil, the entire plot will be unusable. (However, note that when placing an outdoor farm plot, the game will always erroneously report that there is no usable mud/soil. This is a bug - if the plot is green it will function correctly.)
  
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Sadly, [[magma]] cannot be used to irrigate, as it clearly does not leave behind mud. It's usually best <s>not</s> to confuse molten rock and liquid water, although the use of both in tandem may help with schemes to irrigate [[glacier]]s.
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[[Magma]] cannot be used to irrigate, as it does not leave behind mud. It's usually best not to confuse molten rock and liquid water, although the use of both in tandem may help with schemes to irrigate [[glacier|glaciers]].
  
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All types of [[soil]] can be farmed with no need for irrigation, even [[sand]]. Irrigation is '''''not''''' required for farming. Any underground soil can be used to farm; irrigation is only required on stone. Be careful, however: if the stone beneath mud is designated for smoothing, the dwarves will not smooth it, but proceed to clean the mud instead, which will make the farm plot unusable.
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All types of [[soil]] can be farmed with no need for irrigation, even [[sand]]. Irrigation is '''''not''''' required for farming. Any soil underground can be used to farm; irrigation is only required on stone.
  
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[[Cavern|In certain conditions]], irrigation can convert rock floors into soil floors. This can be useful for transporting valuable soil like [[fire clay]] or [[sand]] closer to [[magma]].
 
  
 
== Easy Irrigation ==
 
== Easy Irrigation ==
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This method relies on [[activity zone]]s, as water for irrigation can't simply be dropped on the ground, but must fall from the level above.
 
This method relies on [[activity zone]]s, as water for irrigation can't simply be dropped on the ground, but must fall from the level above.
  
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'''Step one:''' Designate a water source activity zone over the edge of a body of water. In a saltwater biome, a [[well]] must be constructed, instead.
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Step one: Designate a water source activity zone over the edge of a body of water. In a saltwater biome, a [[well]] must be constructed, instead.
  
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'''Step two:''' Dig out or construct a drop-off point just above where you want your farms to be. This most often takes the form of a balcony, catwalk, or scaffolding - anything with open space dwarves can reach (adjacent floor tiles) to pour water down into. Because of how underground Z-levels work (there's a hidden layer between every Z-level), the easiest way to do this if you are underground is to simply dig an area above where you want the farms and [[channel]] a hole in the floor. This will remove the hidden layer, and allow dwarves to pour water down the hole, since it creates "empty space". Water can safely fall any distance.
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Step two: Dig out or construct a drop-off point just above where you want your farms to be. This most often takes the form of a balcony, catwalk, or scaffolding. Alternately, [[mining|channel]] out a shaft and/or staircase all the way up to the surface. Water can safely fall any distance.
  
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'''Step three:''' Designate a [[activity zone#Pit/Pond|pit/pond zone]] at the drop-off point, or several if you'd prefer speed over conservation of buckets. By default, these zones are pits; make sure to switch them to ponds, and to remove them once you have all the mud you need. You will know when the ground is suitable for farming when it has water sprites on it, though check and make sure the tiles say something regarding mud (using the look (k) function)
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Step three: Designate a pit/pond area at the drop-off point, or several if you'd prefer speed over conservation of buckets. By default, these zones are pits, make sure to switch them to ponds, and to remove them once you have all the mud you need.
  
 
That's it!
 
That's it!
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       ▓▓[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~▓▓▓  [#0FF]2 -> lever 2
 
       ▓▓[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]~▓▓▓  [#0FF]2 -> lever 2
 
       ▓[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]≈[#00F]~▓▓▓
 
       ▓[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]≈[#00F]~[#00F]≈[#00F]≈[#00F]~▓▓▓
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upper level, plumbing}}
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upper level, plumbing}}<br/>
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{{diagram|spaces=yes|\
 
{{diagram|spaces=yes|\
 
     ▓.[#FFF]t[#FFF]o.[#FFF]f[#FFF]o[#FFF]r[#FFF]t.▓        [#FFF]l[#FFF]e[#FFF]g[#FFF]e[#FFF]n[#FFF]d         
 
     ▓.[#FFF]t[#FFF]o.[#FFF]f[#FFF]o[#FFF]r[#FFF]t.▓        [#FFF]l[#FFF]e[#FFF]g[#FFF]e[#FFF]n[#FFF]d         
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This reservoir contains 70 units of water (10x7). 9 units of water are lost to the ground of the reservoir (61 left). Roughly 10 units evaporate while spreading (~51). The water should be just enough to cover the whole farm plot and evaporate quickly.
 
This reservoir contains 70 units of water (10x7). 9 units of water are lost to the ground of the reservoir (61 left). Roughly 10 units evaporate while spreading (~51). The water should be just enough to cover the whole farm plot and evaporate quickly.
  
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{{Farming FAQ}}
 
{{Category|Agriculture}}
 
{{Category|Agriculture}}
 
{{Category|Guides}}
 
{{Category|Guides}}
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[[ru:Irrigation]]
 

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