Horticulture Irrigation Management 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 8 lessons:

1 Waste water and recycling:

• Introduction
• Humans and Water
• Water and Plant Growth
• Minimising Plant Requirements
• Xeriscaping
• Waste Water
• Types of Water Wastage: Evaporation, Seepage, Runoff, Overspray, Scheduling
• Recycling Waste Water
• Waste Water Treatment (Reed-Beds)
• Suitable Plants

2 Measuring water usage

• Climate
• The Hydrological Cycle: Direct Fall onto the Land Surface, Intercepted Rainfall, Water Falling Directly into Water-Bodies
• Infiltration
• Rainfall: Distribution, Variability, Frequency, Intensity, Evaporation, Effective Rainfall, Calculating Effective Rainfall
• Temperature
• Wind
• Microclimates
• Special Applications: Irrigation of Vines, Efficient Orchard Irrigation, Scheduling, Regulated Deficit Irrigation
• Measuring Soil Moisture
• Water Monitoring Equipment: Gypsum Blocks, Neutron Probe Meters, Tensiometers, Ceramic Block Sensors, Heat Sensor System, Dielectric Scanning Device, Applications
• Measuring Water Usage: Soil Characteristics, Unique Crop Requirements, Local Evapotranspiration Levels

3 Drainage

• Introduction
• Drainage: Rainfall
• Improving Permeability During Construction: Cultivation, Adding Soil Ameliorants, Chemical Treatments
• Improving Surface Drainage After Construction: Sand Slitting, Aerating, Sub Soiling
• Layout of Drains: Outlet, Gradients, Distance Between Drainage Pipes, Depth Of Drains
• Types of Drains
• Laying the Drain
• Contingencies to Deal With Flood

4 Irrigation controllers

• Irrigation Controllers
• Controllers: Automatic Controllers, Time Clocks, Computerised Tap Controllers, Manual Controllers, Battery Powered Solenoid Valves
• Water Volumes and Duration
• Technical Data Sheet Mechanical Tap Timer
• Technical Data Sheet Electronic Tap Timer
• Pumps and Pressure Systems
• Types of Pumps: Table: Comparison Of Pump Types, Shallow Well Pumps, Deep Well Pumps
• Pumping Mechanisms: Piston Pumps, Centrifugal Pumps, Turbine Pumps
• When a Centrifugal Pump Fails to Operate

5 System maintenance

• Maintenance of Watering Systems: System Maintenance
• Maintenance Procedures and Scheduling: Periodic Inspections, Routine Upkeep, Contingency Work, Scheduling Work
• Maintaining Trickle Irrigation Systems: Cleaning Filters, Flushing the System, Use of Chlorine, Chlorination in Doses, Continuous Chlorination
• Maintaining Water Quality
• How to Improve the Quality of Water From Any Source
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies - Physical Impurities: Sediment, Turbidity, Colour
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies - Chemical Impurities: Hardness, Alkalinity, Corrosion, Iron, Salinity, Tastes and Odours
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies - Biological Impurities: Algae, Micro organisms
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies - Bacteriological Impurities

6 Fertigation

• Introduction
• Advantages of Fertigation
• Disadvantages of Fertigation
• Fertigation Types: Proportional Application, Quantitative Application, Continuous Application, Three Stage Application
• Fertiliser Injectors: Pump Injectors, Pressure Differential Injectors, Suction Injectors, Fertiliser Applications
• Plant Nursery Fertiliser Injection Techniques

7 Design evaluation

• Design Considerations: Water availability, Source and quality of water, Regulations, Site details, Finances and labour requirements
• Importance of Design
• Surface/Flood Irrigation: Border Check System, Hillside Flooding, Furrow Irrigation
• Sprinkler Irrigation: Wind Velocity and Wetting Pattern, Droplet Size, Rotational Speed, Evaporation
• Trickle Irrigation: Evaporation, Saves Labour, Does Not Get Water Where It's Not Wanted, Reduces Weeds, Reduces Disease
• Microjet Irrigation
• Do it Yourself Micro Irrigation Systems
• Time Length of Watering
• Automatic Systems
• Water Management in Turf

8 System design

• Pre-Planning Information: What is the soil like? dimensions and other measurements, Relevant by laws, Environment of the locality, Available resources, Client/owner preferencies and priorities, photos of site
• Type of System
• Underground Pipes
• Drainage