IWE-30806 Water Delivery

Vak

Studiepunten 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

IWE 10304 Irrigation & water management

Contents:

The course teaches about irrigation management issues in water delivery methods on field and farm level. It is a specialising course on agro-irrigation. Important subjects of debate, touching the irrigation sector, are the increasing water scarcity and competition, environmental sustainability of the irrigation production system and the need for increased food production. Sustainable and environmentally sound irrigation requires attention to a number of specific issues, including:
- field and farm water management techniques and approaches that aim at increasing the water use efficiency and at avoiding negative environmental effects, including health risks and degradation of the irrigated land;
- use of low quality water, including (treated) waste water, in an environmentally safe approach.

Aims:

After the course, participants are able:
- to understand conceptual approaches that study the field environment, irrigators and irrigated agriculture;
- to analyse both physical and social factors why farmers in different farming systems and specific contexts select certain irrigation methods;
- to analyse the 'optimal' use of water for different methods of irrigation supply, in respect to water availability and land degradation;
- to study interactions between irrigation practices and the environment, including salinisation and other forms of land degradation;
- to understand implications of design and management on water-related health issues;
- to understand implications of design and management in waste water re-use systems.

Activities:

To attend lectures, including guest lectures about specific subjects. Selfstudy. Active participation in working groups. Field and laboratory practicals.

Examination:

Writing and presentation of essay, report on practical.