Drainage in Agriculture: controlling water and salt levels in the soil from edX

Increasing scarcity of natural resources ****The demand for safe and healthy food is rapidly increasing. The world population is growing and is projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050. How do we prepare for this and how are we going to be able to feed all these people?

Global climate change raises the pressure on supply and demand for water. Changing temperatures and long-term variation in annual precipitation amounts and regional distribution patterns require more ways to control water levels. In addition to the changing climate, cropping patterns are diversifying and field irrigation methods are changing.

Relevance of drainageIt is clear that the food production mainly has to come from improvements in agricultural water management on existing agricultural lands. In light of all these changes in water demand, supply and use, the role of (subsurface) drainage has changed from a single-purpose measure for controlling waterlogging and/or salinity to an essential element of integrated water management under multiple land use scenarios.

Learn how drainage can contribute to sustainable food securityJoin this course to advance your knowledge in drainage, drainage systems and solutions, and to help securing a sustainable food supply. In this course, you will work on different modules, apply the knowledge gained directly to your home country drainage situation. Furthermore, you will learn from other cases and learners worldwide, expanding your horizon on the global importance of drainage.

For whom This course was developed for professionals and students from various backgrounds, especially those who are interested in agricultural water management and want to broaden their understanding of drainage planning, design, and management, and drainage-related research and training. Although specifically watermanagers and waterengineers, agricultural engineers, irrigation professionals, hydrologists, and agricultural policy makers join this course, the course is open and accessible to everyone.

Do not miss out on the opportunity to join this online course and upgrade your knowledge on drainage for agricultural lands.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the concept of drainage and its role in agricultural water management
Explain physical and agro-hydrological principles underlying drainage of agricultural land
Make water and salt balances to calculate drainage needs
Formulate drainage criteria

Make sound estimates for drainage parameters needed to design drainage systems
Understand differences between steady-state and unsteady-state drainage approaches
Understand the need for more control in agricultural drainage management
Design drainage system that enable more operational control

Understand the concept of drainage and its role in agricultural water management
Explain physical and agro-hydrological principles underlying drainage of agricultural land
Make water and salt balances to calculate drainage needs
Formulate drainage criteria
Make sound estimates for drainage parameters needed to design drainage systems
Understand differences between steady-state and unsteady-state drainage approaches
Understand the need for more control in agricultural drainage management
Design drainage system that enable more operational control

Syllabus

The course consists of five modules.

In Module 1, the need for drainage, the drainage methods and the design approaches for agricultural drainage systems are introduced.

In Module 2 you will learn more about the hydrological principles related to drainage and drainage design equations.

Module 3 discusses the general aspects of drainage of saline and sodic soils.

Module 4 is an introduction to the implementation and operation & maintenance of drainage systems.

Depending on your background and interest, you may decide by yourself in which sequence you do these three modules. But you should realize that in Module 5, all these different aspects of drainage are integrated to discuss the changing role of drainage in agricultural water management.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches methods that enable learners to design, plan, and manage drainage systems in agriculture

Explores the role of drainage in agricultural water management, making this relevant for agricultural professionals

Addresses the physical and agro-hydrological principles that underpin agricultural drainage

Guides learners through calculations of water and salt balances to evaluate drainage needs

Covers the design, operation, and maintenance of drainage systems, fostering well-rounded understanding

Emphasizes the use of control in agricultural drainage management, aligning with industry needs

Reviews summary

Practical knowledge on drainage systems

Students praise this course for delivering useful and hands-on knowledge on drainage systems.

The instructor is authentic and enthusiastic about the topic.

"The teachers seems authentic and genuinely enthusiastic about the topic presented."

Students appreciate the hands-on knowledge on drainage systems.

"The knowledge on drainage systems and solutions was very hands-on and applicable to real cases."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Drainage in Agriculture: controlling water and salt levels in the soil with these activities:

Review basic soil and water concepts

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This course ties directly to the topic of soil and water, so it is important to review these concepts.

Browse courses on Soil Science

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Review notes or textbooks on soil science and hydrology.
Complete practice problems or quizzes on soil and water concepts.

Review the book 'Drainage of Agricultural Lands'

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of drainage of agricultural lands.

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Read the book and take notes.
Summarize the key concepts of the book.
Apply the concepts to a real-world drainage problem.

Learn about different types of drainage systems

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Students will need to understand the different types of drainage systems in order to make informed decisions about which system to use in a particular situation.

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Find tutorials or articles on different types of drainage systems.
Review the materials and take notes.
Create a summary of the different types of drainage systems, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Six other activities

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Calculate drainage rates of agricultural land

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Students will need to accurately complete a variety of drainage calculations.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Find practice problems or quizzes on drainage calculations.
Solve the problems and check your answers.
Repeat until you can confidently solve a variety of drainage calculation problems.

Discuss drainage challenges with other students

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Students can learn from each other by discussing the challenges they are facing and sharing solutions.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Find a study partner or group.
Meet regularly to discuss drainage challenges.
Share ideas and solutions.

Design a drainage system for a specific agricultural field

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Students will need to be able to apply their knowledge of drainage systems to design a system for a specific field.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Gather data on the field, including soil type, topography, and climate.
Determine the drainage needs of the field.
Select a drainage system type.
Design the drainage system, including the layout of the drains, the depth of the drains, and the spacing of the drains.
Create a report that includes your design and calculations.

Attend a workshop on drainage design

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Workshops can provide students with an opportunity to learn from experts and network with other professionals.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Find a workshop on drainage design.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.

Develop a drainage management plan for a local farm

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This project will allow students to apply their knowledge of drainage to a real-world problem.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Contact a local farmer and discuss their drainage needs.
Gather data on the farm, including soil type, topography, and climate.
Determine the drainage needs of the farm.
Develop a drainage management plan.
Present your plan to the farmer.

Participate in a drainage design competition

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This competition will allow students to test their skills against other students and professionals.

Browse courses on Agricultural Water Management

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Find a drainage design competition.
Register for the competition.
Design a drainage system for the competition.
Submit your design to the competition.
Attend the competition and present your design.

Career center

Learners who complete Drainage in Agriculture: controlling water and salt levels in the soil will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Water Conservation Specialist

A Water Conservation Specialist develops and implements plans to conserve water resources. This course may be useful for Water Conservation Specialists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Conservation Specialist

Agricultural Engineer

An Agricultural Engineer designs and manages systems to improve agricultural productivity. They also study the effects of human activity on the environment, and develop plans to protect and manage the environment. This course may be useful for Agricultural Engineers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Engineer

Water Quality Specialist

A Water Quality Specialist monitors and assesses water quality, and develops plans to protect and manage water resources. This course may be useful for Water Quality Specialists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Quality Specialist

Soil Scientist

A Soil Scientist studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. They also study the effects of human activity on soil, and develop plans to protect and manage soil resources. This course may be useful for Soil Scientists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Soil Scientist

Water Resources Planner

A Water Resources Planner develops and implements plans to manage water resources. This course may be useful for Water Resources Planners because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Resources Planner

Water Resources Engineer

A Water Resources Engineer designs and manages water resources systems, such as dams, reservoirs, canals, and pipelines. They also study the effects of human activity on water resources, and develop plans to protect and manage these resources. This course may be useful for Water Resources Engineers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Water Resources Engineer

Hydrologist

A Hydrologist researches and manages water resources. They study the movement and distribution of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Hydrologists also study the effects of human activity on water resources, and develop plans to protect and manage these resources. This course may be useful for Hydrologists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Natural Resources Manager

A Natural Resources Manager manages natural resources, such as forests, parks, and wildlife. This course may be useful for Natural Resources Managers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Water Treatment Plant Operator

A Water Treatment Plant Operator operates and maintains water treatment plants. This course may be useful for Water Treatment Plant Operators because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Civil Engineer

A Civil Engineer designs and builds infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, buildings, and water supply systems. They also study the effects of human activity on the environment, and develop plans to protect and manage the environment. This course may be useful for Civil Engineers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist studies the effects of human activity on the environment, and develops plans to protect and manage the environment. This course may be useful for Environmental Scientists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Conservationist

A Conservationist develops and implements plans to conserve natural resources. This course may be useful for Conservationists because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Environmental Engineer

An Environmental Engineer designs and manages systems to protect the environment from pollution. They also study the effects of human activity on the environment, and develop plans to protect and manage the environment. This course may be useful for Environmental Engineers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

A Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator operates and maintains wastewater treatment plants. This course may be useful for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

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Geotechnical Engineer

A Geotechnical Engineer designs and manages systems to protect the environment from pollution. They also study the effects of human activity on the environment, and develop plans to protect and manage the environment. This course may be useful for Geotechnical Engineers because it provides an overview of the principles of drainage and their application in agricultural water management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geotechnical Engineer