Irrigation Management - Endorsed Certificate Course (TQUK - Training Qualifications UK)

Irrigation Management (Horticulture) Online Course.100 Hours Endorsed Certificate Course (TQUK - Training Qualifications UK).

Take your knowledge of irrigation systems further.! This course builds on skills achieved in the Irrigation modules to develop students’ skills to manage the design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for horticultural applications.

Want to become an irrigation specialist? This course does assume you have some knowledge of irrigation equipment and installation. It is ideal for those already working as a foremen, supervisors, managers and installers of irrigation systems in the irrigation industry.

Course topics covered include: how to monitor water usage, measuring volumes of water administered, problems with different impurities in water, electronic equipment, and different types of system designs and components.

If you have already completed our Irrigation (Gardens) course this module is ideal a progression course. It can be studied as an individual standalone course; however, we strongly recommend that you undertake Irrigation Gardens first.

The following topic areas are covered:

• Ways to optimise water efficiency
• Scheduling irrigation for nurseries, gardens, turf
and horticultural crops.
• Drainage system design
• Operating irrigation controllers
• Managing system maintenance
• Managing fertigation
• Evaluating irrigation designs
• Design of different systems

This course builds on skills achieved in Irrigation modules (BHT210 and BHT204) to expand your irrigation knowledge in order to manage the design and operation of large scale irrigation systems for horticultural applications.

Benefits of an ADL Endorsed Course?

Endorsed courses are skills based. They have been evaluated and approved by an independent awarding body such as Training Qualifications UK (TQUK).

What makes ADL’s Endorsed courses different?

• Flexible Self-Paced Learning– adjust your learning around your home and work commitments
• Start and Finish at any time
• Courses globally and industry relevant
• Practical Component at the end of most lessons.

Allocated your own tutor relevant to your subject. You can have as little or as much contact as you like with your tutor. They are there to support you all the way through.

This course is endorsed by TQUK -Training Qualifications UK, an OFQUAL awarding body.

Lesson Structure:

1 Waste water and recycling:

• Introduction
• Humans and Water
• Water and Plant Growth
• Minimising Plant Requirements
• Xeriscaping
• Waste Water
• Types of Water Wastage: Evaporation, Seepage, Runoff, Overspray, Scheduling
• Recycling Waste Water
• Waste Water Treatment (Reed-Beds)
• Suitable Plants

2 Measuring water usage

• Climate
• The Hydrological Cycle: Direct Fall onto the Land Surface, Intercepted Rainfall, Water Falling Directly into Water-Bodies
• Infiltration
• Rainfall: Distribution, Variability, Frequency, Intensity, Evaporation, Effective Rainfall, Calculating Effective Rainfall
• Temperature
• Wind
• Microclimates
• Special Applications: Irrigation of Vines, Efficient Orchard Irrigation, Scheduling, Regulated Deficit Irrigation
• Measuring Soil Moisture
• Water Monitoring Equipment: Gypsum Blocks, Neutron Probe Meters, Tensiometers, Ceramic Block Sensors, Heat Sensor System, Dielectric Scanning Device, Applications
• Measuring Water Usage: Soil Characteristics, Unique Crop Requirements, Local Evapotranspiration Levels

3 Drainage

• Introduction
• Drainage: Rainfall
• Improving Permeability During Construction: Cultivation, Adding Soil Ameliorants, Chemical Treatments
• Improving Surface Drainage After Construction: Sand Slitting, Aerating, Sub Soiling
• Layout of Drains: Outlet, Gradients, Distance Between Drainage Pipes, Depth Of Drains
• Types of Drains
• Laying the Drain
• Contingencies to Deal With Flood

4 Irrigation controllers

• Irrigation Controllers
• Controllers: Automatic Controllers, Time Clocks, Computerised Tap Controllers, Manual Controllers, Battery Powered Solenoid Valves
• Water Volumes and Duration
• Technical Data Sheet Mechanical Tap Timer
• Technical Data Sheet Electronic Tap Timer
• Pumps and Pressure Systems
• Types of Pumps: Table: Comparison Of Pump Types, Shallow Well Pumps, Deep Well Pumps
• Pumping Mechanisms: Piston Pumps, Centrifugal Pumps, Turbine Pumps
• When a Centrifugal Pump Fails to Operate

5 System maintenance

• Maintenance of Watering Systems: System Maintenance
• Maintenance Procedures and Scheduling: Periodic Inspections, Routine Upkeep, Contingency Work, Scheduling Work
• Maintaining Trickle Irrigation Systems: Cleaning Filters, Flushing the System, Use of Chlorine, Chlorination in Doses, Continuous Chlorination
• Maintaining Water Quality
• How to Improve the Quality of Water From Any Source
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies – Physical Impurities: Sediment, Turbidity, Colour
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies – Chemical Impurities: Hardness, Alkalinity, Corrosion, Iron, Salinity, Tastes and Odours
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies – Biological Impurities: Algae, Micro organisms
• Problems of Water Quality and Their Remedies – Bacteriological Impurities

6 Fertigation

• Introduction
• Advantages of Fertigation
• Disadvantages of Fertigation
• Fertigation Types: Proportional Application, Quantitative Application, Continuous Application, Three Stage Application
• Fertiliser Injectors: Pump Injectors, Pressure Differential Injectors, Suction Injectors, Fertiliser Applications
• Plant Nursery Fertiliser Injection Techniques

7 Design evaluation

• Design Considerations: Water availability, Source and quality of water, Regulations, Site details, Finances and labour requirements
• Importance of Design
• Surface/Flood Irrigation: Border Check System, Hillside Flooding, Furrow Irrigation
• Sprinkler Irrigation: Wind Velocity and Wetting Pattern, Droplet Size, Rotational Speed, Evaporation
• Trickle Irrigation: Evaporation, Saves Labour, Does Not Get Water Where It’s Not Wanted, Reduces Weeds, Reduces Disease
• Microjet Irrigation
• Do it Yourself Micro Irrigation Systems
• Time Length of Watering
• Automatic Systems
• Water Management in Turf

8 System design

• Pre-Planning Information: What is the soil like? dimensions and other measurements, Relevant by laws, Environment of the locality, Available resources, Client/owner preferences and priorities, photos of site
• Type of System
• Underground Pipes
• Drainage

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the academy, marked by the academy's tutors and returned to you with feedback, any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Landscapers, Gardening Enthusiasts, Home Gardeners, Garden Designers

A pc or laptop with internet connection

This course will help you if you want to start a self-employed irrigation maintenance/garden maintenance business, own a small, medium or large gardening service and need staff to be trained properly in garden maintenance techniques, or if you are a keen amateur gardener aspiring to have the "perfect garden".

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