Abstract: Due to the spatial variability of underlying surface information and under the influence of human activity,hydrological characteristics of irrigation area are different from those of the natural basin.The concept of irrigation hydrology is pointed out in the research on hydrological cycle at different scales in irrigation area and interaction of irrigation-drainage and hydrology.Currently,the study on the effects of water use on irrigation area hydrology and the scale effect of water saving has complemented the conten of irrigation hydrology,and the irrigation hydrology research is becoming a hot spot in the world.Based on the analysis of hydrological cycle and the influence of irrigation practice on the irrigation system,several considerations of irrigation hydrology concept are introduced.On the basis of the current situation of the study in irrigation hydrology and the relevant field,the research emphasis and the development trend of irrigation hydrology in the future are given.The paper indicates that hydrological monitoring and information acquisition in irrigation system are the research base of irrigation hydrology,the numerical simulation method and the irrigation system distributed hydrological model for at the irrigation area are the main means of the research,and the scale effect and scaling are the difficult points of the research.