Module 1: Introduction to Agricultural Water Resources and Hydrology

• The global water cycle and its relevance to agriculture.
• Sources of water for irrigation: Surface water, groundwater, rainfall.
• Basic hydrological concepts: Runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration.
• Water balance in agricultural systems.
• Challenges and opportunities in agricultural water management.
• Practical session: Calculating a simple water balance for a given farm scenario using provided data.

Module 2: Soil-Plant-Water Relationships

• Soil water content: Saturation, field capacity, permanent wilting point.
• Soil texture and structure influence on water movement and retention.
• How plants absorb water: Root systems and water uptake.
• Evapotranspiration: Crop water requirements and factors affecting them.
• Crop water stress and its impact on yield.
• Practical session: Performing a soil water content determination using a gravimetric method and observing plant responses to water stress.

Module 3: Irrigation Water Quality and Its Management

• Importance of irrigation water quality for crop production and soil health.
• Key water quality parameters: Salinity, pH, specific ions.
• Sources of water quality problems in irrigation.
• Methods for assessing irrigation water quality.
• Management strategies for poor quality irrigation water.
• Practical session: Measuring pH and Electrical Conductivity (EC) of different water samples and discussing their suitability for irrigation.

Module 4: Surface Irrigation Systems Design and Management

• Principles of surface irrigation: Border, furrow, basin irrigation.
• Advantages and disadvantages of surface irrigation.
• Factors affecting efficiency of surface irrigation (slope, soil type, flow rate).
• Design considerations for surface irrigation systems.
• Management practices for optimizing water application and uniformity.
• Practical session: Calculating the required flow rate and duration for a simple basin irrigation scenario.

Module 5: Sprinkler Irrigation Systems Design and Management

• Types of sprinkler irrigation systems: Portable, semi-permanent, permanent, center pivot, lateral move.
• Components of a sprinkler system: Pumps, pipes, sprinklers.
• Design considerations for sprinkler systems: Pressure, flow rate, coverage.
• Advantages and disadvantages of sprinkler irrigation.
• Management for optimal uniformity and efficiency.
• Practical session: Identifying different types of sprinkler heads and discussing their application suitability.

Module 6: Drip and Micro-Irrigation Systems Design and Management

• Principles of drip and micro-irrigation: Low pressure, precise application.
• Components of drip and micro-irrigation systems: Emitters, laterals, mainlines, filters.
• Design considerations: Emitter spacing, pressure regulation, filtration.
• Advantages of drip and micro-irrigation: Water saving, nutrient delivery.
• Maintenance and troubleshooting of drip systems.
• Practical session: Assembling a simple drip irrigation lateral and demonstrating emitter flow.

Module 7: Irrigation Scheduling and Water Use Efficiency

• Why irrigate? Understanding crop water needs.
• Methods of irrigation scheduling: Calendar-based, soil moisture sensing, plant-based, weather-based.
• Calculating irrigation depth and frequency.
• Concepts of water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation efficiency.
• Strategies to improve WUE at the farm level.
• Practical session: Developing an irrigation schedule for a specific crop based on provided weather data and crop coefficients.

Module 8: Drainage and Salinity Management in Irrigated Lands

• Importance of drainage in irrigated agriculture.
• Types of drainage systems: Surface drainage, subsurface drainage.
• Causes and effects of soil salinity in irrigated areas.
• Methods for salinity control: Leaching, chemical amendments, salt-tolerant crops.
• Integrated strategies for drainage and salinity management.
• Practical session: Observing visual signs of salinity in soil samples and discussing methods for remediation.

Module 9: Water Harvesting and Conservation Techniques

• Principles of water harvesting for agricultural use.
• In-situ water harvesting techniques: Contour ridges, tied ridges, terracing.
• Ex-situ water harvesting techniques: Ponds, subsurface dams, charco dams.
• Management of harvested water for irrigation.
• Role of conservation agriculture in water conservation.
• Practical session: Designing a basic in-situ water harvesting structure for a given land slope and rainfall pattern.

Module 10: Economic and Environmental Aspects of Irrigation and Water Management

• Cost-benefit analysis of different irrigation systems.
• Economic returns from improved water management.
• Environmental impacts of irrigation: Waterlogging, salinization, water pollution.
• Sustainable water governance and policy considerations.
• Future challenges and innovations in agricultural water management.
• Practical session: Performing a simple cost comparison for installing two different irrigation systems.

Requirements:

·       Participants should be reasonably proficient in English.

·       Applicants must live up to Armstrong Global Institute admission criteria.

Terms and Conditions

1. Discounts: Organizations sponsoring Four Participants will have the 5th attend Free

2. What is catered for by the Course Fees: Fees cater for all requirements for the training – Learning materials, Lunches, Teas, Snacks and Certification. All participants will additionally cater for their travel and accommodation expenses, visa application, insurance, and other personal expenses.

3. Certificate Awarded: Participants are awarded Certificates of Participation at the end of the training.

4. The program content shown here is for guidance purposes only. Our continuous course improvement process may lead to changes in topics and course structure.

5. Approval of Course: Our Programs are NITA Approved. Participating organizations can therefore claim reimbursement on fees paid in accordance with NITA Rules.

Booking for Training

Simply send an email to the Training Officer on training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com and we will send you a registration form. We advise you to book early to avoid missing a seat to this training.

Or call us on +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588

Payment Options

We provide 3 payment options, choose one for your convenience, and kindly make payments at least 5 days before the Training start date to reserve your seat:

1. Groups of 5 People and Above – Cheque Payments to: Armstrong Global Training & Development Center Limited should be paid in advance, 5 days to the training.

2. Invoice: We can send a bill directly to you or your company.

3. Deposit directly into Bank Account (Account details provided upon request)

Cancellation Policy

1. Payment for all courses includes a registration fee, which is non-refundable, and equals 15% of the total sum of the course fee.

2. Participants may cancel attendance 14 days or more prior to the training commencement date.

3. No refunds will be made 14 days or less before the training commencement date. However, participants who are unable to attend may opt to attend a similar training course at a later date or send a substitute participant provided the participation criteria have been met.

Tailor Made Courses

This training course can also be customized for your institution upon request for a minimum of 5 participants. You can have it conducted at our Training Centre or at a convenient location. For further inquiries, please contact us on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588 or Email training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com

Accommodation and Airport Transfer

Accommodation and Airport Transfer is arranged upon request and at extra cost. For reservations contact the Training Officer on Email: training@armstrongglobalinstitute.com or on Tel: +254720272325 / +254725012095 / +254724452588