Modern irrigation systems are capable of delivering water with remarkable precision.
Drip irrigation, subsurface irrigation and automated scheduling have significantly reduced unnecessary water consumption when compared with traditional irrigation methods.
Nevertheless, even perfectly delivered water remains subject to the physical behaviour of the soil.
After entering the ground, water begins moving according to hydraulic gradients, soil structure, gravity and evaporation.
Depending upon soil characteristics, part of the irrigation water may rapidly move beyond the active root zone.
Another fraction may evaporate before becoming available to plants.
Compacted soils may limit infiltration.
Highly permeable soils may accelerate deep percolation.
Poor soil structure may produce uneven moisture distribution.
Consequently, irrigation efficiency depends not only upon the irrigation system itself but also upon the behaviour of the soil after water has been delivered.
This observation represents one of the fundamental engineering assumptions underlying the Radixora project.