IRR400 Principles of Irrigation (8)

This subject provides an introduction to soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationship and soil moisture measurement techniques for irrigation scheduling. A study of open channel and pipe hydraulics and its application to study the principles of gravity, drip, and sprinkler irrigation. Recycled water and wastewater use for irrigation.
Distance Education students are required to attend a compulsory residential school as a requirement for this subject.

Availability

* Offering has a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Session 2 (60)
Online *
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: IRR400. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Students who have completed IRR200 cannot enrol in this subject.

Subject Relationships

IRR200 Paired Subject

Incompatible Subjects

IRR200

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to assess soil water status and deduce its availability to plants
  • be able to calculate crop water requirement and evaluate different approaches
  • be able to apply basic hydraulic principles to choose a pipe and open channel flow system which minimises pressure loss
  • be able to evaluate gravity and pressurised irrigation system using different performance indices
  • be able to design a small scale pressurised irrigation system: choose appropriate dripper, sprinkler, and pump products
  • be able to assess irrigation water quality in terms of physical and chemical properties and propose control/management methods

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

Irrigation: World and Australian Context
Irrigation and global food security, irrigation in the Australian context, irrigation productivity and irrigation sustainability;

Soil-Plant-Water-Atmosphere Relations
Soil-plant-water relations, soil moisture measurement, crop water requirement, irrigation water requirement and irrigation scheduling;

Open Channel and Pipe Hydraulics
Open channel hydraulics, pipe line hydraulics and irrigation pumps

Irrigation Systems
Irrigation system layout, surface (gravity) irrigation methods, surface irrigation performance, sprinkle irrigation, microirrigation, waste and recycled water use;

Environmental impacts of irrigation

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of IRR400 in Session 2 2019. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Soil-plant-water relations
10
2
Crop water requirement and irrigation scheduling
10
3
Residential school report
10
4
Hydraulics
10
5
Irrigation methods
10
6
Final exam
50

Residential School

This subject contains a 3 day Compulsory Residential School.

The residential school provides a practical approach to the theories taught in the subject.
The students will gain practical knowledge from attendance at lectures, tutorials, lab practicals and field trips to irrigation areas.

Special Resources

Students are required to attend the compulsory residential school which will involve travel expenses and a time commitment. 
 

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: October 2020. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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