Abstract
This subject explores the principles of soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationships, pressurised and non-pressurised water flows, and their applications for on-farm water management. Students will apply the principles of water-plant-atmosphere relationship to determine plant water requirement and irrigation scheduling. Students will also apply principles of open channel, pipe and pump hydraulics in the … For more content click the Read More button below.
Syllabus
This subject will cover the following topics:
Soil-plant-water relations and soil moisture measurement;Crop water requirement, irrigation water requirement and irrigation scheduling;Open channel hydraulics, pipe line hydraulics and irrigation pumps;Irrigation system layout, surface (gravity) irrigation methods and surface irrigation performance;Sprinkle irrigation and microirrigation; andWaste and recycled water use.
Assessment items
1. Soil-Plant-Water-Atmosphere Relations and Irrigation Scheduling
2. Practical Exam
3. Hydraulics and Irrigation Methods
4. Final Exam
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
1.
compute plant available soil water and interpret soil-water relations;
2.
calculate water requirement of horticultural and broad acre crops;
3.
apply basic hydraulic principles to determine pressure requirement and head loss in pipe and open channel flow systems;
4.
evaluate the efficiency of a surface irrigation event and distribution uniformity of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems;
5.
design a small scale pressurised irrigation system: choose appropriate dripper, sprinkler, and pump products; and
6.
assess irrigation water quality in terms of physical and chemical properties.
Learning activities
Intensive School
Learning resources
Additional resources required by students
Students attending compulsory intensive schools on Charles Sturt University campuses will incur costs associated with travel, accommodation and required resources (minimum: lab coat, safety glasses and covered footwear for lab-based practicals).