IRR200 Principles of Irrigation (8)

This subject provides an introduction to soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationship and soil moisture measurement techniques for irrigation scheduling. Students will learn the principles of open channel, pipe and pump hydraulics to develop skills in design, operation and management of gravity and pressurised irrigation systems. Students will develop their knowledge of irrigation water quality criteria and remediation techniques to apply to irrigation-induced issues in soil and water quality. 

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: IRR200. 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, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to compute plant available soil water and interpret soil-water relations;
  • be able to calculate water requirement of horticultural and broad acre crops;
  • be able to apply basic hydraulic principles to determine pressure requirement and head loss in pipe and open channel flow systems;
  • be able to explain the efficiency of a surface irrigation event and evaluate distribution uniformity of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems;
  • be able to design a small scale pressurised irrigation system: choose appropriate dripper, sprinkler, and pump products; and
  • be able to assess irrigation water quality in terms of physical and chemical properties and determine the leaching requirements.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Soil-plant-water relations, 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, 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 IRR200 in Session 2 2021. 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 hands on approaches to the theory taught. There are lectures, tutorials, laboratory practicals and field trips to Irrigation areas.

Special Resources

Students attending compulsory residential schools on CSU campuses will incur costs associated with travel, accommodation and required resources.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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