IRRIGATION BAG213

Home Study Irrigation Course

Irrigation is now playing a more important role in agriculture than ever before. However, depending on the climate, the value of the plants or animals, the value of the land and it's suitability for irrigation, the cost, reliability and quality of the water supply, irrigation may or may not be possible or feasible.

Irrigation may enable plants (i.e. crops, pasture) to be grown in a dry climate where it would not otherwise be possible, or it may supplement the existing rainfall and improve growth rates by extending the growth period of the plant, or by ensuring there is adequate moisture during critical periods when the plant is growing most rapidly. The value of irrigation can vary greatly from year to year depending on the distribution of rainfall during the growth season.

CONTENT

There are 10 lessons as follows:

• Objectives of Irrigation
• Sources of water
• Water quality and remedies
• Sediment, turbiity, colour, hardness, corrosion, iron etc.
• Bacteriological impurities

• Understanding soils
• Different Soils suit different purposes
• Chemical aspects of soil
• Physical aspects of soil
• Soil and Water
• Types of soil moisture
• Transpiration and wilting point
• Identifying the soil
• Improving the soil
• A fee-test for estimating soil moisture level
• Fertigation

• When to irrigate
• Signs to look for
• Timing of irrigation
• Measuring water available to plants
• Calculating field capacity
• Calculating Permanent wilting point
• Soil water budget
• Crop Water needs
• Effect of climate on crop water needs
• Measuring evapotranspiration
• Pan evaporation method
• Theoretical method - Blaney-Criddle Method
• Influence of crop type on water needs (crop factor)
• Calculating crop water needs
• Irrigation system efficiency
• Water volumes and duration

• Improving permeability during construction
• Improving surface drainage after construction
• Layout of drains
• Dams and water storage
• Soil degradation
• Erosion
• Soil acidification
• Soil compaction
• Chemical residues
• Waste water treatment using reed beds
• Suitable plants

• Categories of irrigation systems
• Sub-surface and surface irrigation
• Flood irrigation systems
• Pressurised irrigation systems
• Drip and sprinkler irrigation
• Portable, solid and semi-permanent
• Mechanised sprinkler irrigation systems
• Traveling irrigators, Centre pivot, Linear move, Powered side roll
• Fixed sprinkler systems
• Hand move, hose move, permanent
• Sprinkler heads
• Mechanisms that drive rotating sprinkler heads
• Design considerations

• DIY micro-irrigation
• Length of watering
• Automatic watering
• Maintenance of watering systems
• Micro-jet irrigation benefits
• Use of chlorine

• Hydraulics
• Pressure
• Calculating discharge or flow
• Friction loss in systems
• Water hammer

• Types of pumps
• Comparisons of pumps
• Pumps and pressure systems
• Pumping mechanisms
• Pump failure
• Prevention of clogging - trickle irrigation
• Controllers

• Water saving measures
• Filtration

Lesson 10:Design and Operation of Systems

• Cyclic watering
• Pulse watering
• Sprinkler spacing
• Electrical factors
• Electric automatic systems

 DURATION:   100 hours 

 What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

AIMS

• Explain the significance of soil in irrigation.
• Explain how to determine when to irrigate in agricultural situations.
• Manage irrigation in agricultural situations.                
• Explain the significance of different aspects of moving water including: drainage, pumps, filters, storage, recirculation, and re-use.
• Select an appropriate irrigation system for a given agricultural situation.
• Explain the principles of design for a simple irrigation system.
• Design a simple irrigation system.
• Oversee the installation of an irrigation system.

   

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   OUR TUTORS

  Dr. Gareth Pearce BSc(Hons), BVSc, MA, MVetS, PhD, GradCertEd(HE), PGCertAqVetS, PGCertWLBio&Cons, DiplECPHM, MRCVS. Gareth has over 25 years of experience in teaching and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, wildlife ecology and conservation in a variety of colleges and universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon at the Universities of Melbourne and Bristol, having previously graduated in Agricultural Science and gained a PhD in Livestock Behaviour and Production. He also has post-graduate qualifications in Education, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Aquatic Veterinary Studies and Wildlife Biology & Conservation.

  Anna Sylvester B.Sc.Hons.(Human Biology), M.Sc.Equine
  Anna graduated with a degree in Human Biology from Loughborough University and then went on to complete an MSc in Equine Science at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and has a high level of expertise in equine science. She has since spent time in managerial, research and lecturing positions. She also has practical equine experience, and still competes nationally whenever the opportunity arises.

  Marius Erasmus B.Sc.Agric., B.Sc.(Wildlife), M.Sc.Agric.
  Subsequent to completing a BSc (agric) degree in animal science, he completed an honours degree in wildlife management, and a masters degree in production animal physiology. Following the Masters degree, he has worked for 9 years in the UK, and South Africa; in wildlife management, dairy, beef and poultry farming.