The University of Florida IFAS Extension is launching a new professional development course for greenhouse, nursery, and CEA staff. Attendees will learn to align irrigation practices with crop needs for improved growth and sustainability.
The lesson covers a broad range of topics essential for understanding and optimizing irrigation systems. It begins with an exploration of different types of irrigation systems, including their components and design criteria, and progresses to more complex topics such as water flow, friction, and pressure dynamics within real irrigation systems. Additionally, the course examines how substrate and container physical properties can affect the availability of water to plants. Learners will compare the efficiency of timed versus sensor-based irrigation controllers and how to effectively integrate substrate, plant, and environmental factors to accurately time irrigation events.
The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of conducting audits and maintaining systems, followed by exploring Best Management Practices (BMPs) for various irrigation applications, including sub-irrigation, drip and micro-irrigation, and overhead irrigation. These topics are designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of irrigation management and its practical applications.
If you wish to register, you can do so at the link here.
More information can be found at the link here.
For more information:
UF/IFAS
www.ifas.ufl.edu