Irrigation & Drainage BSc Course Description PDF

**COURSE DESCRIPTION** **Institution's Detail** University/College/Institute NJALA UNIVERSITY ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Faculty /School TECHNOLOGY Department AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Programme B...

**COURSE DESCRIPTION** **Institution's Detail** University/College/Institute NJALA UNIVERSITY ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Faculty /School TECHNOLOGY Department AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING Programme BSc Agricultural Engineering **Course Justification:** This course is an elective specifically for the Soil and water specialization in BSc Ag. Engineering program. A major problem for agricultural production in Sierra Leone is the low coverage of irrigation. This course is designed to improve the skills and knowledge of students in irrigation who in turn will provide the necessary support to farmers and other interested partners. **Course Details** Course Level BSc -------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Course Title Irrigation & Drainage Course Code AGE 3116 Credit Hours 3 Credit Hrs. of which 2 hr. of teaching and 2 hrs. of practical. Note: 1 Credit hour consist of 15 contact hours per semester 1 Credit hours for practical is equivalent to 2 contact hours **Instructor(s): Institutional email /contact of instructor** Dr. M M Blango +23279313716 ---------------- -------------------------------------- **Course Objectives:** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | General aim(s) and objectives of | - This course is designed to | | the course | impart students with | | | knowledge of the basic | | | principles and practices | | | related to the development | | | and management of Irrigation | | | and Drainage systems. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Learning Outcomes:** (Note: Learning Outcomes should reflect the skills and knowledge the student should acquire). +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | By the end of the course, | 1.Understand and measure the | | students will be able to: | processes/components of the | | | hydrologic cycle that transfer | | | water from one storage to the | | | other. | | | | | | 2\. Evaluate quantities of water | | | available from groundwater and | | | surface water sources | | | | | | 3\. Explain factors that | | | influence crop water use, | | | quantify both crop water and | | | irrigation requirements | | | | | | 4\. Design suitable irrigation | | | systems for different | | | situations | | | | | | 5\. Distinguish between surface | | | and surface drainage systems | | | | | | 6\. Design surface drainage | | | systems | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Course Content** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Topics to be covered | i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. vii | | | i. ix. Drainage | | | needs in humid and in | | | irrigated arid regions ; | | | Surface and subsurface | | | drainage systems | | | | | | x. Drainage theories and | | | methods, depth and spacing of | | | drains for controlling the | | | water table. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Method of delivery** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lectures, class work, class discussion, group Presentation, end of semester project. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Course Prerequisites** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Prerequisites for this course | - Students must have completed | | | the AGE 213 course in the | | | Second year | +===================================+===================================+ | Any other requirements | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Course Requirement** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Students are expected to present at least 1 assignment, 1 class activity, at least 1 group power point presentation, at least 1 report for the practical activities. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Week** | **Activities** | +===================================+===================================+ | Week 1 | **Course basic units and | | | relevance to agricultural | | | production.** | | | | | | **The Hydrologic cycle: | | | components/main processes and | | | their measurement, man's | | | influence on the hydrologic | | | cycle.** | | | | | | **Detailed consideration of main | | | processes: Precipitation, | | | characteristics, measurement, | | | errors, networks;** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive | | | understanding of the | | | hydrologic cycle, including | | | its various components such | | | as evaporation, condensation, | | | precipitation, runoff, | | | infiltration, and | | | transpiration. | | | | | | 2. recognize the | | | interconnectedness of various | | | processes within the | | | hydrologic cycle. | | | | | | 3. utilize different techniques | | | and methods used to measure | | | components of the hydrologic | | | cycle. This includes methods | | | such as stream gauging, rain | | | gauge measurements, satellite | | | remote sensing, and | | | groundwater monitoring. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 2 | **Infiltration and percolation, | | | nature, significance, influencing | | | factors, measurement; Runoff and | | | stream flow, nature, influencing | | | factors, | | | measurement/estimation.** | | | | | | **Ground water: occurrence, | | | aquifers (types, properties);** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. demonstrate proficiency in | | | different techniques and | | | methods used to measure | | | components of the hydrologic | | | cycle. This includes methods | | | such as stream gauging, | | | infiltration rate | | | measurement, and groundwater | | | monitoring. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 3 | **Irrigation and food security, | | | irrigation quantities and | | | units.** | | | | | | **Soil-plant-water relations, | | | crop root zone water balance.** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. develop a deep appreciation | | | of the critical role of | | | irrigation in ensuring food | | | security. | | | | | | 2. utilize various units and how | | | they relate to the amount of | | | water applied to crops and | | | the efficiency of irrigation | | | systems. This knowledge is | | | essential for designing and | | | managing irrigation systems | | | effectively. | | | | | | 3. Critically evaluate the | | | complex interactions between | | | soil, plants, and water in | | | agricultural ecosystems | | | | | | 4. gain an understanding of the | | | water balance within the root | | | zone of crops, which includes | | | inputs (such as rainfall and | | | irrigation), outputs (such as | | | evapotranspiration and | | | runoff), and changes in soil | | | moisture storage. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 4 | **Crop water requirements, simple | | | computational methods, | | | influencing factors (crop, | | | climate, soil, agronomic | | | practices.** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. calculate crop water | | | requirements based on factors | | | such as crop type, growth | | | stage, and local climate | | | conditions. | | | | | | 2. optimize water use efficiency | | | and crop yields while | | | minimizing water wastage and | | | environmental impacts. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 5 | **Irrigation requirements. Gross | | | irrigation requirement: leaching | | | requirement, irrigation | | | efficiencies.** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. calculate gross irrigation | | | requirement based on factors | | | such as crop type, growth | | | stage, evapotranspiration | | | rates, and climatic | | | conditions. | | | | | | 2. Understand the concept of | | | irrigation efficiency and | | | will know how to assess and | | | improve irrigation | | | efficiencies through proper | | | irrigation system design, | | | operation, and maintenance | | | practices. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 6 | **Irrigation practices; methods | | | and management strategies** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive | | | understanding of the | | | principles, advantages, and | | | limitations of each method, | | | as well as their suitability | | | for different crops, soils, | | | and climates. | | | | | | 2. Explore Irrigation System | | | Components: learn about the | | | components of irrigation | | | systems, including pumps, | | | pipes, valves, controllers, | | | emitters, and sprinklers. | | | | | | 3. learn about the factors that | | | influence irrigation | | | decisions, including crop | | | water requirements, soil | | | properties, climate | | | conditions, water | | | availability, and economic | | | considerations. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 7 | **Irrigation practices; methods | | | and management strategies | | | (Continued)** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. assess soil moisture levels, | | | soil properties (such as | | | texture, structure, and | | | infiltration rate), and crop | | | water requirements to | | | determine the timing and | | | amount of irrigation needed | | | | | | 2. explore various water | | | management strategies aimed | | | at optimizing irrigation | | | practices and maximizing | | | water use efficiency. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 8 | **Drainage needs in humid and in | | | irrigated arid regions; Surface | | | and subsurface drainage systems** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to: | | | | | | 1. Comprehend the importance of | | | drainage systems in managing | | | excess water in both humid | | | and irrigated arid regions | | | | | | 2. understand the principles of | | | surface water flow and how | | | surface drainage systems are | | | designed, installed, and | | | maintained to efficiently | | | remove excess water from the | | | land | | | | | | 3. learn about the principles of | | | groundwater flow and how | | | subsurface drainage systems | | | are installed beneath the | | | soil surface to enhance soil | | | aeration and root growth. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 9 | **Drainage theories and methods, | | | depth and spacing of drains for | | | controlling the water table** | | | | | | Upon completion of this unit, you | | | will be able to | | | | | | 1. learn the importance of | | | drainage in maintaining soil | | | structure, preventing | | | waterlogging, and promoting | | | healthy root growth. | | | | | | 2. They will understand how | | | factors such as soil type, | | | hydraulic conductivity, | | | groundwater table depth, and | | | drainage coefficient | | | influence the design of | | | drainage systems. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 10 | Field Trips and report writing | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 11 | PUBLIC LECTURES-TOPIC: The role | | | of Irrigation in achieving food | | | security. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 12 | Revision week | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Week 13 | EXAMINATION | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Assessment Methods (formative and summative)** Assessment Method Contribution to total mark (%) ------------------------- -------------------------------- Attendance\* 5% Class work/Assignment\* 10% Field Practical \* 25% Exam 60% \*A minimum of 70% attendance is required. A student who misses 3 consecutive weeks of classes will not be allowed to take the exam. \* A student who was not in lesson for any activity, assignment or project will not be allowed to present or report on such activity. **Grading System and Grade Point Average** Student work is assessed on a literal grading system: 75% and above A - Excellent 5 Grade Points ---------------- --------------- ---------------- 65% - 74% B - Good 4 Grade Points 50% - 64% C -- Fair  3 Grade Points 40% - 49%  D -- Failed  2 Grade Points 30% - 39%  E - Failed 1 Grade Point 29% and Below  F - Failed 0 Grade Point **Recommended References** If you wish to learn more about the topics covered in this unit, you should review one or more of the books and articles listed below: 1. Irrigation and Water Resources Engineering by G.L. Asawa 2. Land Drainage: Principles, Methods, and Applications by P.J. Waller and A.P. Waller 3. FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 24 4. FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 56 5. Water resources Engineering 2^nd^ Edition, Larry W Mays **Academic Integrity** Njala University maintain high academic integrity standard. As members of this noble institution, students should know, understand, and follow the codes of conduct regarding academic integrity. In this regard, students should submit only original work done and acknowledge all sources of information or ideas appropriately. Breach of academic integrity will attract disciplinary action. **Others** Tutor's Office Hours (Wednesday and Thursday 3:00- 4:00 pm) Class meeting Times and Location (Tuesday :10- 12:00 pm) Practical session : 2 hours