Course Summary:

To learn basic principles of modern irrigation management. Included in these basics, are topics covering the latest inventions of localized irrigation technologies, among these:

Fundamentals of soil-water relations; hydraulics; evapo-transpiration and irrigation scheduling; economics and irrigation efficiency; agricultural sprinkler, and drip irrigation technologies; fertigation and chemigation; water quality and filtration.

The major objectives of the Course pretend to teach the student to set-up practical and efficient irrigation systems that can improve crop productivity and profitability, minimize water use, and protect natural resources.

 Syllabus:

• Micro Irrigation: Definitions, Components, Classification of Micro-emitters, Micro-jets, Micro-sprinklers, Spreaders and Swivels, Water distribution patterns, Application rate, number of emitters in a lateral.

• Drip Irrigation: definition, Drippers classification, Water passage dimensions, Layout of drip irrigation systems, Water and salts distribution patterns, Regulated drippers.

• Sprinkler Irrigation, components, Advantages and disadvantages, Definitions, Spacing - Precipitation rate, Sprinkler types, Rotating impact sprinkler (Hammer), Nozzles, Irrigation Uniformity, Water distribution pattern.

• Filtration: impurities in water, Water analysis, Filtration definition, Mechanical filtration. Filter types, Filters maintenance.

• Automation: the latest technologies facilitating the operator the minimum manual intervention, and their justification.

Course Summary:

This course enables you to study the main issues related to the international standards and their importance in agriculture. 

 Syllabus:

• The need for standards: What standard is, Consumption chain and involved parties, what the customers want, why it changed (World Trends), Development of standards.
• Types of standards: Universal vs. local/specific buyer (who defines), Generic vs. checklist (how defined), Division by main issue of interest (what required), Accordance to stage in production (where required).
• Main instruments for standard implementation: Risk analyses, documented procedures instructions, Traceability, Competence and training, Infrastructures control, Records, Complaint management and corrective actions, Internal audits self-assessment, Data analyses.
• Short review of standard’s requirements: Global GAP, ISO 9001, BRC.

Course Summary:

This course introduces to the student advanced and environmental friendly methods of controlling pests and diseases.

Syllabus:

• IPM \ ICM principles
• IPM methods
• Plant protection methods
• Quarantine pest
• Horticulture means as tools for Plant Protection techniques (pruning, thinning, irrigation, nutrition).
• Med-Fly as a model pest for IPM means.
• Mating distraction – an IPM technique.
• Biological control
• Chemical treatments (Friendly chemicals) include MRL, LD50.

Course Summary:

This course enables you to study basic methods and techniques of fruit tree farming in modern farms while achieving high yields and high-quality products.

Syllabus:

• General principles in horticulture using examples of the Israeli orchards agriculture.
• Planning a fruit crop industry: growing conditions, sensitivities, varieties, storage protocols.
• The importance of rootstocks.
• Phonology of fruit crops.
• Intensification of fruit crops maximization of yield, fruit size and fruit quality, conventional      
• And high density orchards, principles for luminosity maintenance.
• Irrigation using vegetative parameters vs climatic parameters. Fixed and variable irrigation Volume.                                      
• Managing of a fruit crop plantation: irrigation and pruning strategy.
• Maximization of yield by manipulations: the use of plant growth regulators.
• Pollination as a limiting factor.
• Canopy management.
• Orchard design. Fruit tree machinery.