207-204 Engineering and Irrigation

207-110 The Horticultural Environment

Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the use of machinery in the management of horticultural resources;

• demonstrate an understanding of site surveying and levelling techniques; and

• identify and discuss the different types of irrigation systems used in horticulture, their operating principles and the evaluation of the performance of irrigation systems.

Topics include:

• types of machinery and principles of operation of machinery used in the management of horticultural resources including parklands, sports turf, nurseries and urban landscapes;

• selection and evaluation of horticultural equipment including tractors, sprayers, earthwork equipment and maintenance machinery, power unit performance, occupational health and safety;

• site surveying for horticultural applications including plane surveying, levelling, field work, drawing of plans and levels for irrigation, landscape and drainage works;

• types of irrigation systems used in horticulture, irrigation components and equipment - characteristics and performance of pressurised irrigation systems, hydraulic performance, selection of appropriate irrigation techniques and methods to evaluate the performance of irrigation systems;

• management of irrigation systems to match plant and crop and site needs; and

• control and automation of irrigation technology.

One 2000-word assignment (20%), two written 2-hour examinations (40% each).