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In this study, the vertical and horizontal distribution of water under the soil was examined by applying the irrigation water with the classical method (continuous) and intermittently in the subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system in order to provide a better water distribution. The trial area where the research was conducted had a clayey soil texture, and the field slope was less than 1%. Accordingly, four different intermittent irrigation methods were studied under field conditions. Before and after each irrigation, water was monitored in the soil at 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm depths from the soil surface and at 5, 20, and 35 cm horizontal distances from the dripper. In both years of the research, the highest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was obtained in the F1 treatment, with values of 0.22 kg m−3and 0.23 kg m−3, respectively, indicating the longest interval between two irrigation events. The difference between treatments was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.01) for all vertical depths at a distance of 35 cm from the dripper point. At the furthest point from the emitter (35 cm), the amounts of water measured in the soil were 6% higher in the 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm layers for the F1 treatment compared to the other treatments. The study demonstrated that the lateral movement of water in SDI is increased with intermittent irrigation. The research holds significant implications for researchers working in this field and for SDI users in water-scarce areas and those facing deep percolation issues.