Irrigation and Drainage

Mathematics, Physics, Botany, General Agriculture

Oral exposition – used for the presentation of academic contents detailing principles and foundations, illustrated with practical cases, with the support of the projection of video of schematics and images.

Problems of numerical calculation – used for the development of specific reasoning skills for the subject of the curricular unit, also aiming at self-assessment so that the student becomes aware of his/her level of understanding of the subject

Field visit – used for presentation and explanation by the teacher of examples of irrigation and drainage systems and equipment, seeking to motivate and encourage the student to study; the visit, in principle, takes place on agricultural grounds of the School.

Project – used to develop a work of verification or design of components of irrigation and drainage facilities at the plot level, requiring the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge already acquired.

The objective of this course is to promote student in the following competencies:

1. Know the objectives of irrigation and drainage and the role of water in crop production and its relationship to the environment;
2. Know the basics of irrigation and drainage, referenced to water resources, soil, climate, water requirements of crops and hydraulic installations;
3. Know the irrigation methods, selection criteria and calculation procedures of facilities at the field level;
4. Know the systems and drainage techniques and the respective criteria of design and maintenance.

1. Introduction to irrigation and drainage: concepts and objectives; classification of methods of irrigation and drainage types; irrigation projects and irrigation schemes; issues and legislation.

2. Basis of irrigation and drainage: water resources; soil water and usable capacity, infiltration; topography and use of topographic maps; crop evapotranspiration, the soil water balance method, need for watering; hydraulic elements, Bernoulli’s theorem, flows under pressure and permanent channel and hydraulic pumps.

3. Methods of irrigation: performance indicators; Surface irrigation ­ features and modernization; Sprinkler irrigation ­ installation types and characteristics, calculation of fixed installations; Microirrigation ­ installation types and characteristics, and fertigation, calculation facilities.

4. Drainage: benefits of drainage, irrigation­drainage relationship, soil characteristics; surface drainage; underground drainage.

NAO

ALLEN, R., L.S. PEREIRA, G. RAES, M.SMITH – Evapotranspiración del cultivo. Guías para la determinación de los requerimientos de agua de los cultivos. Estudio FAO Riego y Drenaje 56. Roma, 2006.

MILLAR, A. A. ­ Drenagem de Terras Agrícolas: Bases Agronómicas. S. Paulo: McGraw­Hill, 1978.

OLIVEIRA, I. ­ Técnicas de Regadio. Teoria e Prática. 2ª Ed. Lisboa: Ed. Autor, 2011.

PEREIRA, L. S. ­ Necessidades de água e métodos de rega. Lisboa: Pub. Europa­América, 2004.

RAPOSO, J. R. ­ A Rega ­ dos primitivos regadios às modernas técnicas de rega. Lisboa: FCG, 1996.

SERRALHEIRO, R. Rega Superficial. Évora, 1996.