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Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Discuss issues related to the local water supply.
2. Apply basic principles of efficient irrigation to determine watering strategies.
3. Describe irrigation system components and their functions.
4. Inspect and maintain an irrigation system to promote efficiency.
5. Utilize formulas and calculations to determine irrigation rates, distribution and uniformity.
6. Troubleshoot irrigation components.
7. Determine soil characteristics.
8. Describe amendments and practices to improve physical soil properties and drainage.
9. Determine the water needs of plants.
10. Describe the steps to implement an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program.
11. Discuss sources for and use of new irrigation technologies.
12. Efficiently manage irrigation water using irrigation controllers, water budgets, and scheduling.
13. Plan a water conserving landscape for a landscape site.
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1. Overview and water supply
a. Public water supplies
b. How water is collected for use
c. Programs for water conservation
d. Reading water meters
e. Basic leak detection
2. Irrigation systems
a. Pre-season inspection and maintenance checkup
b. Winterizing an irrigation system
c. Elevation changes on an irrigation system
d. Irrigation system design
e. Irrigation system components and functions
f. Sensors, application devices, and application rates
3. Efficient irrigation
a. Evapotranspiration
b. CIMIS weather stations and their information
c. Plant types and their evapotranspiration
d. Plants and their water use classification
e. Soils and their importane in efficient irrigaiton
f. Distribution uniformity and precipitation rate
4. Soils
a. Soil properties
b. Water interaction with various soil types
c. Monitoring soil moisture
d. Using mulches and soil amendment in irrigation, drainage, and erosion
5. Plant maintenance
a. Water needs of plants in the landscape
b. Hydrozones
c. Integrated pest management (IPM)
6. Water management
a. Precipitation rates
b. Distribution uniformity
c. Interpreting a catch can test
d. Irrigation runtime formula
7. Water budgets
8. Irrigation schedules
9. Irrigation controller programming
a. Controller works and functions
b. Porgramming a controller
10. Irrigation trouble shooting
a. How an irrigation valve works
b. Identifying and troubleshooting irrigation valve problems
c. using a Volt/Ohm meter
11. New technology
a. Emission devices and "smart" controllers
b. How rain and flow sensors work
12. Putting it all together
a. Importance of water budget and audit as water conservation tools
b. Explaining to a customer the limited nature of water resources
c. Using an efficient irrigaiton system to save the customer money
d. Model contracts that reward people for saving water
e. Knowing how to determine when to make improvements
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course. |
|
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
20 - 30% |
| See problem solving assignments | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
5 - 10% |
| Programming controller soil jar test | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
60 - 70% |
| Multiple choice, true/false, matching items, completion | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 10% |
| Attendance and participation | |
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Instructor prepared materials