93665 - Sustainable Water Management

Learning outcomes

At course completion, the student possesses knowledge on: agro-hydrological processes involved in the management of water resources at different spatial and temporal scales; monitoring systems to support water resource management; modeling approaches for the water resource management and planning in agriculture; integrated approaches and precision irrigation technologies. In particular, the student possesses the skills to: evaluate water resource management in different agro-environmental contexts; design integrated irrigation systems for sustainable and accurate water resource management; apply agro-hydrological models to various spatial and temporal scales; identify adaptation strategies to improve water resource management in agriculture.

Course contents

The course is thought in four units.

Unit 1 –Hydrology and hydrological processes

Presentation and discussion of the water balance and of the water fluxes at the land-surface. The course focuses on soil hydrology and the plant-soil interactions

Unit 2 – Monitoring and modelling systems for supporting water management

Measurements and modelling systems are discussed. The course focuses on the current solutions and new challenges. The presentation is enriched with practical exercise with computer codes (Spreadsheet and Rstudio), activities in the lab and in the field.

Unit 3 –Water management

Description of the irrigation systems: irrigation methods, distribution systems and water resources. The course focuses on the role of agricultural water management at different spatial scales (from field to district level)

Unit 4 –Sustainability

All the topics previously described will be used to discuss sustainability. A special focus will be paid on the paradox of irrigation efficiency and the rebound effect.

Readings/Bibliography

The course will be based on the lecture notes and scripts of the teacher. Books and scientific papers are suggested for further discussions.

Teaching methods

Lectures in class, exercises in the computer pools and practical experiences in the lab and in the filed.

Assessment methods

The knowledge and skills taught in this course are evaluated by means of a short report, presentations and a final oral exam (30 minutes)

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Baroni