Irrigation: The Soil-Plant-Water Relationship
Credits: 5 PDH
PDH Course Description:
This course supplies engineers with the basic data necessary to plan, design, and maintain efficient conservation irrigation practices. This course describes properties of soils and plants that affect the movement, retention, and use of water that are
essential to plant growth. A wide variety of topics are discussed, which provide a broad understanding of the relationship and interactions between the soil, irrigation water, and plant life.
The concepts and principles discussed can be applied to a variety of applications encountered in engineering, including interior/exterior landscaping, agriculture, bioengineering, drainage facilities, green roofs, and more.
Topics:
- Physical Properties of Soil
- Soil Structure
- Soil Salinity and Categories of Salt-Affected Soils
- Soil Water Potential and Characteristic Curves
- Water Movement in Soil
- Methods Used for Characterizing Soil Water
- Tensiometers, Electrical-Resistance Instruments, and Neutron Scattering
- Location of Soil Water Measurements
- Water Intake, Percolation, Factors Affecting Infiltration
- Soil Sealing, Surging, Compaction, Tillage, Soil Cracking
- Sediments in Irrigation Water
- Land Leveling, Surface Storage
- Infiltration,Cumulative Infiltration and Infiltration Rate Relations
- Field Infiltration Measurements
- Plant Root Systems, Crop Species Rooting Characteristics
- Factors Affecting Root Growth
- Design Water-Extraction Depth
- Evapotranspiration(ET)
- Crop Coefficient, Crop Critical, Stress Periods
- Yield-Evapotranspiration Relationships
- Soil Factors, Climatic Factors, Specific Ion Effects
- Effects of Soil Acidity on Plant Growth
- Determining Lime Requirement
- Scheduling Irrigations, Water Balance Accounting Procedures
- Automation in Irrigation Scheduling
To take this course:
1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
(must be logged into your user account)
Download the Study Guide
3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.
Take the final exam
4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.
Print the Certificate of Completion
Intended Audience: This course is intended for Geotechnical, Civil, Environmental, Water Resources, and other engineers whose job description requires a overview of irrigation principles, applications and design.
Publication Source: USDA Soil Conservation Service
Print the Certificate of Completion
Intended Audience: This course is intended for Geotechnical, Civil, Environmental, Water Resources, and other engineers whose job description requires a overview of irrigation principles, applications and design.
Publication Source: USDA Soil Conservation Service
Donald Parnell, PE