diff --git a/src/biogeophys/IrrigationMod.F90 b/src/biogeophys/IrrigationMod.F90
index 20ab50c060..54bf047221 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/IrrigationMod.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/IrrigationMod.F90
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ module IrrigationMod
   use pftconMod        , only : pftcon
   use clm_varctl       , only : iulog
   use clm_varcon       , only : isecspday, denh2o, spval, ispval, namec, nameg
-  use clm_varpar       , only : nlevsoi, nlevgrnd
+  use clm_varpar       , only : nlevsoi, nlevgrnd, cft_lb, cft_ub
   use clm_time_manager , only : get_step_size
   use SoilWaterRetentionCurveMod, only : soil_water_retention_curve_type
   use WaterFluxBulkType      , only : waterfluxbulk_type
@@ -710,8 +710,8 @@ subroutine SetIrrigMethod(this, bounds)
 
     do p = bounds%begp,bounds%endp
        g = patch%gridcell(p)
-       if (pftcon%irrigated(patch%itype(p)) == 1._r8) then
-          m = patch%itype(p)
+       m = patch%itype(p)
+       if (m >= cft_lb .and. m <= cft_ub .and. pftcon%irrigated(m) == 1._r8) then
           this%irrig_method_patch(p) = irrig_method(g,m)
           ! ensure irrig_method is valid; if not set, use drip irrigation
           if(irrig_method(g,m) == irrig_method_unset) then