Course detail

Pedology and Irrigation

FAST-BSA005Acad. year: 2022/2023

General soil science, pedogenesis - pedogenetic factors and processes. Basic soil properties - physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soils. Soil hydrostatics, adsorption, capillarity, swelling and soil water potential including methods of measurement. Hydropedology, soil moisture and soil moisture measurement. Soil types.
Importance of irrigation, history and development. Causes and evaluation of drought, determination of irrigation water requirements and sources and treatment. Types of irrigation by purpose, focus on supplemental irrigation. Spray irrigation, irrigation machinery and equipment. Irrigation of grass areas (parks, sports lawns). Automated irrigation systems. Localised irrigation, its principles with a focus on drip irrigation. Overview of special-purpose irrigation (anti-frost, etc.).

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Department

Institute of Landscape Water Management (VHK)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Basic knowledge of pedology and irrigation, basic principles of irrigation.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of physics, hydraulics and hydrology.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Not applicable.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

To obtain credit, basic pedological analyses and laboratory protocols must be carried out. In addition, a study of the irrigation system of field crops by spraying with an irrigation machine is a requirement.

The examination takes the form of a final test or oral examination as required.

Course curriculum

1. Introduction to hydropedology, soil forming process.
2.–3. Soil forming factors and processes.
4. Physical, mechanic and chemical properties of soils.
5. Hydropedology - soil moisture and soil moisture measurements.
6. Soil hydrostatics - adsorption, capillarity, swelling, soil water potential.
7. History of irrigation, role and importance of irrigation, reasons of drought, plant and water, evapotranspiration, types of irrigation.
8. Irrigation water demand; water resources, quality and treatment.
9. Pumping stations, water distribution. Sprinkle irrigation, irrigation facilities and machines.
10. Lawn irrigation (parks, sport turf). Automated irrigation systems.
11. Micro-irrigation, drip irrigation. Irigatin of orchards, vineyards, vegetables.
12. Gravitational, fertilized and special types of irrigation. Climatic and antifrost irrigation.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of pedology: pedogenesis, soil classification of the Czech Republic, soil species, soil types, soil analysis, water and air in soil.
Acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of irrigation: calculation of water requirements, water sources, treatment, pumping. Overview of irrigation products and systems used in the Czech Republic, ability to design a basic irrigation system for agricultural areas.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KULHAVÝ, František a Zbyněk KULHAVÝ. Navrhování hydromelioračních staveb. Praha: ČKAIT, 2008. ISBN 978-80-87093-83-2.
Kameníčková, I.: Vodní hospodářství krajiny I. Skriptum. BRNO 2005, 138 p. (CS)
Kutílek, M. Vodohospodářská pedologie. 2., přeprac. vyd. Praha: Státní nakladatelství technické literatury, 1978.
ŠÁLEK, Jan. Závlahové stavby. 2. vyd. Brno: Vysoké učení technické, 1993. Učební texty vysokých škol. ISBN 80-214-0497-3.
Zbíral, J., Čižmárová, E., Obdržálková, E., Rychlý, M. Analýza půd I: jednotné pracovní postupy. - 4. vydání. Ústřední kontrolní a zkušební ústav zemědělský, Brno, 2016. ISBN: 978-80-7401-123-8.
Zoubková, L. Návody k laboratorním cvičením z pedologie. Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí n. Labem, Fakulta životního prostředí, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7414-842-2. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Elearning

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-SI Bachelor's

    specialization V , 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  1. General introduction to pedology and soil composition.
  2. Pedogenesis (processes and factors).
  3. Basic soil properties (physical).
  4. Basic soil properties (mechanical and chemical).
  5. Soil hydrostatics.
  6. Soil types.
  7. Introduction to irrigation. Drought, climate change, need for irrigation. History of irrigation in the world, in our country. Current status.
  8. Evaluation of aridity. Supplementary irrigation - water requirements. Sources, quality, treatment of irrigation water.
  9. Pumping and transport of water. Spray irrigation - irrigation machines.
  10. Irrigation of grassland (parks, sports grounds). Automated irrigation systems.
  11. Localised irrigation - drip irrigation. Gravity systems.
  12. Fertiliser irrigation, special irrigation (air-conditioning, anti-frost...). Subsidies for building irrigation systems.
  13. Excursion or lecture by a practitioner.

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Soil texture – sieve analysis. 2. Bulk density and current moisture. 3. The apparent density of soil particles. 4. Casagrande's test. 5. Andrian's test. 6. Soil reaction, determination CaCO3, test. 7.–12. Project of field irrigation in South Moravia.

Elearning