28404 - Irrigation, Drainage And Soil Conservation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the student acquires the knowledge required for the technical-economic management of irrigation and drainage in agriculture in general and more specifically the field of green. Also acquire knowledge for the protection of soil through natural engineering works. In particular, the student is able to choose the most suitable irrigation facilities and drainage especially in the field of green and a set of soil evaluating the effectiveness of forest-hydraulic properties, including working in teams with other professionals (engineers, geologists, ..).

Course contents

Formative Pre-requirements

The student must own a basic preparation thanks to studied principles of mathematics and physics and to some notions of agronomy and agro-meteorology. These pre-requirements are provided by the respective courses of the Bachelor’s degree.

Unit 1 - Irrigation (24 hours)

- Base concepts and definition of the fundamental quantities - classification of the irrigation according to agronomic and territorial criterions, necessity and convenience of the irrigation.

- Gravitational methods of irrigation (sliding, infiltration, submersion).

- Methods of irrigation in pressure: sprinkling - constitutive elements, typologies of business systems, self-propelled systems, typology and characterization of the irrigators.

- Methods of irrigation in pressure: micro-irrigation - constitutive elements with particular attention to nozzles, systems of filtering, fertirrigation.

- Pump systems and other equipment: classification of the pumps, fundamental quantities, characterization of pumps and other equipment.

Competences acquired in unit 1

The student possesses the correct technical approach in the context of the explained techniques of irrigation.

The student is able to choose the suitable technique of irrigation in relation to the different business realities.

The student knows criterions to calculate the principal parameters of irrigation.

Unit 2 - Drainage (6 hours)

- Relationship between water and drainage.

- Classification of the types of drains and their respective use: horizontal drainage, vertical drainage.

Competences acquired in unit 2

The student is able to identify the characteristic elements of both superficial and underground systems of drainage.

The student recognizes the most proper setup for the drainage of the water in excess.

Unit 3 - Exercises and didactic visits (14 hours)

- Soil protection: effects on soil erosion and hydrology.

- Hydrological-hydraulic-forestry works with particular reference to those of natural engineering.

Competences acquired in unit 3

- The student is able to identify the characteristic elements of infrastructures for soil conservation.

- The student recognizes the most proper typology of soil conservation techniques.

Unit 4 - Exercises and didactic visits (16 hours)

- Design of irrigation systems, examples.

- Didactic/field visit.

Competences acquired in unit 4

In a specific context, the student is able to choose the most suitable scheme of irrigation and of soil protection.

The student understands the studied tools in the field.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes of “Irrigation, Drainage and Soil Conservation” (in .pdf format downloadable on the teacher’s website) and didactic material.

Texts for further information:

- A.Capra,B.Scicolone:Progettazione e Gestione degli impianti di irrigazione,Edagricole

- V. Ferro; “Elementi di idraulica e idrologia per le scienze agrarie, ambientali e forestali”; McGraw-Hill; Milano; 2013

- Manuali di ingegneria naturalistica (identified during the lessons)

Teaching methods

The course is divided in four didactic unities. The first three units are theoretical. They are developed through frontal lessons supported by slides in PowerPoint. Demonstrations will be done through the help of blackboard and doubts will be clarified with opportune tools. The fourth didactic unit foresees examples that will be developed from the teacher. The material will be provided both on paper or on digital format. Also seminars and specific detailed analysis would be done in order to satisfy the difficulties and requirements of the students. The didactic visit is an integral part of the course because it is useful and necessary to understand the mechanisms of different irrigation systems in the field.

Assessment methods

This teaching is part of the Course INTEGRATED SYSTEMS IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE AND MACHINES FOR THE GREEN with the following other teaching: Equipment for ornamental greenery.
Therefore, the evaluation of the course takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of both the above teachings. The knowledge and skills taught in this course are evaluated by means of a final oral exam where the student is expected to discuss some topics explained during the course.

Teaching tools

Slides in PowerPoint, blackboard, computer, didactic material.

Office hours

See the website of Attilio Toscano