Course CodeBHT204Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Learn the Intricacies of Irrigation This course teaches you more than just how to water a plant. It is all a matter of balance Plant roots need an environment that contains both water and air. If the spaces between soil particles contain too much water it will push out the air and that can create just as much of a problem as too little water. If there is too much water, disease organisms can thrive and roots may rot. With too little water, plants can become sick and more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases. Every type of plant needs to be treated differently when it comes to irrigation. When you grow different plants together, you may need to compromise and find a 'happy balance'. Irrigation is common sense once you understand what is going on with the plants, the soil and the water. This course allows you to build that understanding so you can begin to make better decisions, use more effective practices and ultimately be more productive when you grow crops. Lesson Structure There are 10 lessons in this course: Introduction Soil Characteristics And Problems Estimating Plant And Soil Requirements Drainage - drainage systems, dams, etc. Types Of Irrigation Systems Hydraulics - discharge and flow rates, etc Pumps And Filters Selecting The Right System For The Plant Trickle Irrigation Design And Operation Of Systems Aims Identify and consult appropriate sources of information for the irrigation industry. Explain the significance of soil characteristics to irrigation. Determine when to irrigate in a small scale situation. Explain the drainage aspect of handling water. Explain the operation and selection of irrigation systems. Explain the operation and selection of trickle irrigation systems. Determine specifications for the design of an irrigation system. Explain the pumps and filters needed for handling water adequately for crops. Supervise the installation of an irrigation system. Design and operate an irrigation system for crops. Estimating Plant Water Needs and Irrigation Scheduling If you irrigate properly, you will water thoroughly and infrequently. By making sure the water penetrates the soil properly and wets the total root zone each time, you will find each irrigation will have maximum benefit and the soil will take longer to dry out (reducing the frequency of irrigations required). The amount of water applied and the period between irrigations will need to be adjusted continually to take into account changing weather conditions; and changing soil conditions (where soils are being worked on). The amount of water applied can be restricted by supply. This is increasingly a problem in heavily populated areas where the population growth is outstripping the increases in water storage areas. Deep rooted plants (turf, trees or shrubs) are able to pull up water from deeper in the soil than shallow rooted plants. If these plants are watered in a way that the water penetrates deeper, there will be a supply of water deep in the soil which is insulated from the surface by the soil above. This water will remain in the soil accessible to the plant for a long time, where as water near the surface will have dried out from the affect of the sun or wind over the soil surface. How Often Should Plants Be Watered? It all depends upon the type of plant being watered, the environment, and the soil conditions: Water will infiltrate into the soil at different rates in different soils. Moisture will evaporate more in windy conditions an/or in warmer conditions. Water can also be lost through plant foliage or stopped from reaching the soil by plant foliage. There are a lot of factors that interact to affect irrigation and this course is designed to help you better appreciate the factors and the interactions. The zone between wilting point and field capacity is important in irrigation, with the aim being to keep moisture levels within this zone. It has been found generally that plants take most of their requirements from the upper half of the root zone and as a consequence only about half of the available water is used. Irrigation is therefore generally required when approximately half of the available water is used up. The amount of water to be applied to a crop is therefore half of the available water in the root zone of the crop when the soil is at field capacity. Irrigation applications are timed according to how quickly the plants use the available moisture, and are generally dependant on climatic conditions and the availability of nutrients. The rate at which water is supplied by irrigation is also important and is governed by soil infiltration rates (the rate at which water will pass into the soil). If water is supplied at a rate greater than the ground can absorb it, then runoff may occur and water may be wasted and lost to the plants. WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE? People working on: Vegetable farms, Orchards, Herb farms Cut-flower farms Other horticultural enterprise requiring irrigation. HOW TO ENROL Click box below on left hand side -follow instructions. IF YOU NEED ADVICE - click here to use our FREE ADVISORY SERVICE