Abstract: A method of optimizing the delivery of water to cultivated fields by means of a pivoting irrigation gun mounted on a moving carriage, the method consisting, for irrigating a field of length (L) and of width equal to twice the throw (P) of the gun:
in subdividing the irrigation zone into three successive zones, namely: a start-of-irrigation zone (ZD), an intermediate zone (ZI), and an end-of-irrigation zone (ZF); and
in irrigating the start-of-irrigation zone (ZD) and/or the end-of-irrigation zone (ZF) by performing at least one alternation of a pause during which the carriage is stationary and a displacement of the carriage at a predetermined speed over a distance corresponding to one throw of the gun, so as to optimize the delivery of water relative to the delivery supplied in the intermediate zone, by limiting the water deficits (d1, d2) at the beginning and at the end of irrigation.