Agenda - Got Water?

Time	Section	Goal	Activity	Instructor
10 min	Introduction and class agenda	Answer any questions or concerns from the last class. Clearly delineate what will be covered.	Agenda Sources of irrigation water What should you consider before you irrigate? Matching available water to soils and plants Determining when it is time to irrigate Irrigation water quality and salt-affected soils Methods of irrigation, irrigation systems Applying water uniformly	Agenda Depending on number of repeat participants and time between this and the last lesson, an icebreaker may be needed here. PowerPoint slide 1-2
5 min	Sources of irrigation water	Help participants learn about the sources and limitations of irrigation water.	Discuss sources of irrigation water Water rights Where your water will come from When and/or how often will you get your water	Instructor should have basic understanding of local water rights issues and local permitted uses for domestic wells. PowerPoint slides 3-4
10 min	What should you consider before you irrigate?	Help participants understand all the factors that affect irrigation and irrigation scheduling.	Discuss the following factors that affect irrigation Plants you are trying to grow Water availablity vs. plant needs Soils appropriate for growing chosen plants Shape, size and topography of field Partial vs. complete pasture renovation How much time and money do you have?	PowerPoint slides 5-6
10 min	Matching available water to soils and plants	Help participants understand how soil texture affects the soil’s ability to absorb and hold water for plant use.	Discuss Where plants get their water – rooting depth Soil texture and water infiltration and drainage Available water, soil water-holding capacity Installing new irrigation system – suggestions	Sponge and Bucket Water Holding Demonstration Activity Sheet PowerPoint slides 7-17
15 min	Determining when it is time to irrigate	Help participants understand how to determine an effective irrigation schedule – one based on need not a calendars or a clock.	When is it time to irrigate – determination methods Look and feel method Screwdriver method Evapotranspiration data	Determining Irrigation by the Look and Feel Method Activity Sheet. PowerPoint slides 18-23
10 min	BREAK	BREAK	Participants can continue activity through the break	BREAK
10 min	Irrigation water quality and salt- affected soils	Help participants understand how irrigation water quality may affect their soil and how to recognize salt-affected soils.	Discuss Irrigation water quality issues What to test for Salt-affected soils	If possible, bring in containers that originally had local irrigation water that was allowed to evaporate – show participants the residue. PowerPoint slides 24-25
30 min	Methods of irrigation, irrigation systems	Familiarize participants with the different irrigation systems, their advantages and disadvantages.	Considerations before choosing an irrigation system Proximity of the field or pasture to a water source Adequate distribution system to the field Amount of water required by selected crop Quality of available water Cost of water Topography of the land Soil type Annual precipitation Cost of irrigation supplies Availability of labor for set-up and maintenance Fertilization methods Methods for recycling or handling excess water Types of irrigation systems Flood irrigation Wild Flood irrigation Gated pipe systems for flood irrigation Irrigation ditch practices to reduce pollution Reducing return flows Ditch maintenance Trickle or Drip irrigation Lateral wheel lines Guns Sprinklers Portable handlines	Flood Irrigation System Checklist PowerPoint slides 26-38
10 min	Applying water uniformly	Help participants understand how applying irrigation water uniformly will improve production and reduce pollution.	Discuss Why uniformity is important Ways to check uniformity Ways to improve uniformity	Can Method for Determining Sprinkler Output Activity Sheet PowerPoint slides 39-41
10 min	Summary, questions and answers	Summarize class. Answer questions.	Summary	Assign homework PowerPoint slides 42-44