Agriculture and Agribusiness

Drip and Micro Irrigation Design and Management

Drip irrigation delivers water at a rate low enough that a blocked emitter starves a plant for weeks before anybody sees it, which makes filtration and maintenance the whole discipline rather than an accessory to it. This course treats them that way. Delegates work through emitter types, discharge exponents and pressure compensation, and the manufacturing variation that limits achievable uniformity. Lateral and manifold hydraulics follow, including allowable pressure variation and the emission uniformity a design must guarantee. Filtration is covered in detail across screen, disc, sand media and hydrocyclone, matched to the water source, since surface water, borehole water and dam water each block emitters differently. Chemical water quality is addressed, particularly carbonate, iron and biological growth. Chemigation and fertigation follow, including injector types and nutrient compatibility. Flushing regimes and acid or chlorine treatment are covered as routine maintenance. Scheduling for high frequency application is addressed. The course closes on system evaluation and on diagnosing a blocked field.