Irrigation Management (Horticulture)

Work towards becoming an irrigation specialist

The following topic areas are covered:

• Ways to optimise water efficiency
• Scheduling irrigation for crops & pasture
• Drainage system design
• Operating irrigation controllers
• Managing system maintenance
• Managing fertigation
• Evaluating irrigation designs
• Design of different systems

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Water management
2. Irrigation scheduling
3. Drainage
4. Irrigation controllers
5. Irrigation maintenance
6. Fertigation
7. Design evaluation
8. Irrigation design

What You Will Do

• Contact your regional or local water authority.
• Ask them for information on their water restriction policy.
• When are water restrictions enforced and how do they affect water users?
• Focus mainly on the problems experienced by agricultural users.
• Consider ways that users can minimise their dependence on water access?
• Write a brief report on your findings and submit with your assignment.
• Visit a property that uses irrigation.
• Discuss with the manager the methods that are used to decide when to water and how much ater to use.
• Is irrigation an important element in the success or otherwise of the property?
• Choose a drainage system to which you can get access.
• Remember a drainage system is designed to cope with most situations.
• They are many examples in your local everyday environment.
• Some examples might include the guttering on your house or even on your car.
• Discuss how the system operates and include sketches to show design features.
• Contact a number of companies that offer computerised and technology solutions to irrigation.
• Obtain prices and information if possible on appropriate working installations of their product.
• If possible try a follow up visit at least one (1) operation and discuss the product with a user as well as a retailer. If distance or transport is a problem then you could try writing for this information, which would be suitable for the purpose of this set task.
• Visit a property that uses large irrigation systems.
• Enquire about the maintenance of their systems.
• Consider how is water quality monitored and maintained?
• Investigate at least two irrigation supply companies.
  • Observe how they service customers.
  • Consider: are there any other services they provide?

Opportunities After Study

This course can serve as a stepping stone into the following areas of work:

• Parks & gardens
• Landscaping
• Irrigation
• Garden maintenance
• Green keeping & turf care

It could also be beneficial to people wishing to start an irrigation or landscaping business.