Course Details

Pedology and Irrigation

Academic Year 2022/23

BSA005 course is part of 1 study plan

​ BPC-SI / V Summer Semester 3rd year

General soil science, pedogenesis - pedogenetic factors and processes. Basic soil properties - physical, mechanical and chemical properties of soils. Soil hydrostatics, adsorption, capillarity, swelling and soil water potential including methods of measurement. Hydropedology, soil moisture and soil moisture measurement. Soil types.
Importance of irrigation, history and development. Causes and evaluation of drought, determination of irrigation water requirements and sources and treatment. Types of irrigation by purpose, focus on supplemental irrigation. Spray irrigation, irrigation machinery and equipment. Irrigation of grass areas (parks, sports lawns). Automated irrigation systems. Localised irrigation, its principles with a focus on drip irrigation. Overview of special-purpose irrigation (anti-frost, etc.).

Credits

4 credits

Language of instruction

Czech

Semester

summer

Course Guarantor

Ing. Eva Hyánková, Ph.D.

Institute

Institute of Landscape Water Management

Forms and criteria of assessment

course-unit credit and examination

Entry Knowledge

Basic knowledge of pedology and irrigation, basic principles of irrigation.

Aims

Acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of pedology: pedogenesis, soil classification of the Czech Republic, soil species, soil types, soil analysis, water and air in soil.
Acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of irrigation: calculation of water requirements, water sources, treatment, pumping. Overview of irrigation products and systems used in the Czech Republic, ability to design a basic irrigation system for agricultural areas.

Basic Literature

Kameníčková, I.: Vodní hospodářství krajiny I. Skriptum. BRNO 2005, 138 p. (cs)
Zoubková, L. Návody k laboratorním cvičením z pedologie. Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí n. Labem, Fakulta životního prostředí, 2014. ISBN 978-80-7414-842-2. (cs)
Kutílek, M. Vodohospodářská pedologie. 2., přeprac. vyd. Praha: Státní nakladatelství technické literatury, 1978.
Zbíral, J., Čižmárová, E., Obdržálková, E., Rychlý, M. Analýza půd I: jednotné pracovní postupy. - 4. vydání. Ústřední kontrolní a zkušební ústav zemědělský, Brno, 2016. ISBN: 978-80-7401-123-8.
KULHAVÝ, František a Zbyněk KULHAVÝ. Navrhování hydromelioračních staveb. Praha: ČKAIT, 2008. ISBN 978-80-87093-83-2.
ŠÁLEK, Jan. Závlahové stavby. 2. vyd. Brno: Vysoké učení technické, 1993. Učební texty vysokých škol. ISBN 80-214-0497-3.

Syllabus

1. Introduction to hydropedology, soil forming process.
2.–3. Soil forming factors and processes.
4. Physical, mechanic and chemical properties of soils.
5. Hydropedology - soil moisture and soil moisture measurements.
6. Soil hydrostatics - adsorption, capillarity, swelling, soil water potential.
7. History of irrigation, role and importance of irrigation, reasons of drought, plant and water, evapotranspiration, types of irrigation.
8. Irrigation water demand; water resources, quality and treatment.
9. Pumping stations, water distribution. Sprinkle irrigation, irrigation facilities and machines.
10. Lawn irrigation (parks, sport turf). Automated irrigation systems.
11. Micro-irrigation, drip irrigation. Irigatin of orchards, vineyards, vegetables.
12. Gravitational, fertilized and special types of irrigation. Climatic and antifrost irrigation.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of physics, hydraulics and hydrology.

Specification of controlled instruction, the form of instruction, and the form of compensation of the absences

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Offered to foreign students

Not to offer

Course on BUT site

https://www.vut.cz/en/students/courses/detail/255791

Lecture

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, elective

Syllabus

  1. General introduction to pedology and soil composition.
  2. Pedogenesis (processes and factors).
  3. Basic soil properties (physical).
  4. Basic soil properties (mechanical and chemical).
  5. Soil hydrostatics.
  6. Soil types.
  7. Introduction to irrigation. Drought, climate change, need for irrigation. History of irrigation in the world, in our country. Current status.
  8. Evaluation of aridity. Supplementary irrigation - water requirements. Sources, quality, treatment of irrigation water.
  9. Pumping and transport of water. Spray irrigation - irrigation machines.
  10. Irrigation of grassland (parks, sports grounds). Automated irrigation systems.
  11. Localised irrigation - drip irrigation. Gravity systems.
  12. Fertiliser irrigation, special irrigation (air-conditioning, anti-frost...). Subsidies for building irrigation systems.
  13. Excursion or lecture by a practitioner.

Exercise

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, compulsory

Syllabus

1. Soil texture – sieve analysis.
2. Bulk density and current moisture.
3. The apparent density of soil particles.
4. Casagrande's test.
5. Andrian's test.
6. Soil reaction, determination CaCO3, test.
7.–12. Project of field irrigation in South Moravia.