IWE-30806 Water Delivery

Course

Credits 6.00

Teaching methodContact hours
Lectures24
Practical extensively supervised12
Practical intensively supervised21
Problem-based learning10
Course coordinator(s)dr. ir. GE van Halsema
Lecturer(s)ing. H Boesveld
dr. ir. GE van Halsema
dr. ir. JC van Dam
Examiner(s)prof. dr. LF Vincent

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

IWE-10306 Irrigation & water management

Contents:

Block 1. Field irrigation methods
The course commences with an introduction to the course and memory refresh of agro-irrigation.
Surface irrigation issues (furrow, border and basin irrigation) will be freshened. The advance functions and infiltration relationships will be deepened followed by the discussion of the volume-balance method which will be used in the first - 8 mornings lasting - practical.
Next Sprinkler- and Drip irrigation will be dealt with during 4 lectures. Advantages and disadvantages of different pressurized irrigation systems will be discussed. You will be introduced to the properties of these systems and to calculation procedures in order to be able to design sprinkler and drip systems.
The last two lectures deal with the transition process of surface irrigation to pressurized irrigation in traditional small holder irrigation systems. Case studies from the Andes will be presented. Within the search for more efficient irrigation methods, more and more farmers and irrigation systems are switching to pressurized irrigation systems. However, the changeover from surface irrigation to pressurized irrigation systems requires high investments for farmer's. Farmer's investment possibilities depend on socio-economic context and the type of farming systems. Most irrigation projects investing in infrastructure do not include investments of equipment at farm level. These and other aspects dealing with the introduction of sprinkler and drip irrigation will be presented on the basis of some experiences in Peru.

Block 2. Environmental and quality aspects of irrigation water use on the field:
The second block deals with an overview of quality aspects of irrigation water. Especially water containing soluble salts have to be treated very carefully when used for irrigation. A clear understanding of the effects of salts on crops and salt accumulation in soils is necessary to be able to calculate leaching and drainage requirements, in order to avoid salinization of soils and drainage water. But also the irrigation water may contain nutrients, especially when waste water is reused in agriculture. Quantitative knowledge of these nutrient contents is required, in order to avoid over fertilization of crops.
Two lectures will be dedicated to wastewater issues and four lectures with exercises to salinity problems.
Specific issues dealt with are:
Waste water (re)- use in agriculture; Nutrients content of irrigation water; Multiple water use issues. Salinity in relation to irrigation and drainage; Soil salinity and Sodicity; Salt Balance of the rootzone; Salinization due to capillary rise; Leaching process in the rootzone; Simulation of water flow and solute transport; Reclamation of salt affected soils;

Block 3. Water Productivity, Performance and economic aspects of irrigated agriculture
The last lecture block deals with some complementary issues on farm water management. The following subjects will be discussed:
The need to be more efficient with water use in irrigation applies to all levels of irrigation systems and holds an increasing pressure on the economics of irrigated agriculture.
Performance assessment is an important issue to visualize real water use and to advise on improvement of water use efficiency. An overview of different performance indicators will be presented, as well as different assessment methods from agency- as well as farmers perspective. New techniques and research topics such as the use of remote sensing in establishing water balances and crop water use will be presented. Finally the productivity and efficiency analysis of (irrigated) agriculture will be scaled up to the system and basin level through the application of the economic water valuation tool - where productivity analysis is converted into economic analyses. The aim of economic valuation is to provide an quantitative assessment tool with which potential trade-offs between water use, productivity and economic value can be identified, in specific with regard to IWRM management scenarios.

Learning outcomes:

After the course, participants are able to:
- understand conceptual approaches of on-farm water management and irrigated agriculture;
- evaluate the performance of surface irrigation and the impact of different irrigation technologies on water use efficiency and productivity;
- analyze the optimal use of water for different methods of irrigation water supply, in respect to water availability and quality and land degradation;
- establish environmentally safe water delivery schedules, when dealing with low quality water and soil degradation hazard;
- design a sprinkler or micro irrigation system at field level;
- understand and analyze the problems farmers are dealing with in the transformation process from surface to pressurized irrigation;
- conduct water use efficiency and water productivity analysis of irrigation systems;
- conduct field and experimental trials to determine the advance and infiltration functions for surface irrigation for different soils;;
- optimize the layout of furrows and water application to minimize water losses.

Activities:

The course consists of lectures, including guest lectures about specific subjects; Selfstudy; assignments; Active participation in working groups and practicals:
- field practical on performance of furrow irrigation;
- practical on design of a sprinkler or drip irrigation system.

Examination:

The end mark is based on a written exam and the practical reports.

Literature:

The course reader will be made available at the beginning of the course.

ProgrammePhaseSpecializationPeriod
Restricted Optional for: MILInternational Land and Water ManagementMScB: Irrigation and Water Management5MO