28404 - Irrigation, Drainage And Soil Conservation

Learning outcomes

The course provides an introduction to hydrology with an overview of the problems related to the water management and of the technical solutions in specific in urban and peri-urban green areas. At the end of the course, the student is able to work in an interdisciplinary team of professionals (engineers, geologists...) to identify and design the most suitable irrigation and drainage facilities and bioengineering solutions for the soil protection.

Course contents

Formative Pre-requirements

The student must have a basic knowledge of mathematics and physics, agronomy and agro-meteorology. These pre-requirements are provided by the respective courses of the Bachelor’s degree.

Unit 1 – Introduction to hydrology (12 hours)

• Main characteristics of the water balance and water fluxes. Measurements and modelling. Challenges and solutions at different spatial scales.

Skills acquired in unit 1

• The student learns the main concepts of hydrology and the main challenges in specific in urban and peri-urban green areas.

Unit 2 – Dry conditions and irrigation (24 hours)

• Soil hydrology, plant water requirements, irrigation
• Irrigation systems: gravitational methods (sliding, infiltration, submersion); methods of irrigation in pressure (sprinkling, micro-irrigation).
• Computer exercises for the estimation of plant water requirements and for irrigation design

Skills acquired in unit 2

• The student learns the functioning of the different irrigation techniques.
• The student is able to choose the suitable irrigation technique in the different conditions.
• The student is able to estimate the main irrigation variables

Unit 3 – Drainage and soil protection (24 hours)

• Relationship between water and drainage
• Classification of drainage systems and their use
• Soil erosion and soil protection
• Bioengineering approaches for soil protection

Skills acquired in unit 3

• The student learns the functioning of both surface and subsurface drainage systems
• The student is able to identify the most suitable setup of a drainage system.
• The student is able to identify the most suitable setup for soil protection also based on bioengineering approaches

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 three didactic units. The first unit is a theoretical introduction to the main characteristic of the system and of the processes involved. The other units are organized in frontal lessons, discussion of case studies and practical exercises with the computer.

Assessment methods

This course is part of the Module INTEGRATED SYSTEMS IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE AND MACHINES FOR THE GREEN with the following other course: 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 courses.

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. The exam could be conducted in English.

Teaching tools

Slides in PowerPoint, blackboard, computer, didactic material.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Baroni