Some of our irrigation is set up with either a dirt ditch or cement ditch, which uses siphon tubes or the easy way….gated pipe!!  (My personal favorite)

It is easier to use, costs more to set up, harder to fix if the pipes become broken.  The easier to use part is why I like it.

Here is an example of what you don’t want to have happen.  The water gets caught in a low spot and starts cutting over into another furrow until you have a bog hole.  The only way to fix it is re-dig the furrow by hand, er shovel.