How does a center-pivot irrigation system water a field?

A center-pivot irrigation system waters a field by utilizing a long lateral arm that is anchored at the center of the field. This arm, which has sprinklers mounted along its length, rotates in a circle to distribute water across the crops.1

The system requires a pump to draw water from a supply source, such as a large well or a supply canal, and deliver it into the system's main line. While these sprinkler irrigation systems are highly efficient at applying controlled amounts of water with minimal labor, a notable disadvantage of the center-pivot design is that it cannot reach the corners of a square-shaped field.1