Sprinkler irrigation applies water to the irrigated area via a network of pressurised pipe with sprinkler heads. These systems can be low (1.5 - 2.5 bar), medium (2.5 - 3.5 bar) or high (3.5 - 12 bar) pressure systems.

A sprinkler irrigation system has the following components: pump, filter, control valves, injection unit, a network of  pipes with various sizes and emitters. The emitter can be  an agricultural sprinkler (impact sprinkler, full & part circle sprinklers), a  heavy duty/big gun sprinkler (see pictures) or a traveller equipment which can be centre pivot, lateral/linear move, hard or soft hose traveller (see pictures).

It is a flexible system that can be used to supply adequate moisture for plant growth as well as for frost control or crop cooling during heat waves. Chemigation and fertigation is also possible using this system.

Sprinkler systems can be used to irrigate almost any crops (row crops, broad acre crops) on a wide range of soil types and topography when application rates are matched to soil infiltration rate. The design of the sprinkler system should minimise the potential for negative outcomes such as runoff, deep percolation, excessive evaporation, under application and excessive energy use, therefore the system design is very important.

They can be set systems or continuous move irrigation systems.

Set systems can be periodic move or permanent systems. Periodic move, are suited for areas requiring irrigation no more than every five to seven days. For frequent irrigations, permanent/set/fixed or continuously moving systems are more adoptable.