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.