794-204 Water Management

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to extend participants' ability to:

• identify and understand the nature of water sources for irrigation;

• understand methods for the estimation of plant water requirements;

• understand the range and types of irrigation equipment suitable for horticulture;

• evaluate water management methods to meet local environmental conditions;

• select appropriate irrigation and drainage methods and equipment for horticultural and specific applications;

• describe the performance of irrigation systems.

The content includes: An overview of current irrigation and drainage systems, evaluation of irrigation equipment to meet the needs of both the plant and the local climatic conditions, water supply sources, quantity and quality, reticulation, pumped and storage systems, investigation of irrigation methods and principles including flood, spray, trickle and microspray, investigation of factors affecting sprinkler performance and selection, control equipment, manual and automatic controllers, an overview of drainage methods including surface and sub-surface, pipe sizing, spacing and layout, a study of fluid properties, the role of friction, pipe friction, and the use of friction charts, in pipe selection, selection of pipes for a water supply system.

Assessment

Two one-hour examinations (35% each); assignment of 1500 words (30%).