Drainage and soil conservation [ LBRES2105 ]

iCampus

Soil physics

Spreadsheet management (ExcelTM,') 

Geomatics (basic use of Geographical information system)

- Water, wind and tillage erosion : physical processes and quantification

- Modeling of water erosion at plot and watershed scale

- Principles of soil conservation in temperate and tropical environments

- Soil conservation techniques and practices : physical, agronomical, vegetative, and management practices

- Role of drainage

- Characteristics of drainage networks, placement and maintenance

- Dimensioning of drainage network

a. Contribution de l'activité au référentiel AA (AA du programme)

M2.2 ; M2.3 ; M6.5 ; M6.8

b. Formulation spécifique pour cette activité des AA du programme

Soil conservation (3.5 ECTS)

At the end of the course and practicals, the students:

- Will master the main mechanisms involved in the degradation of soil by water , wind and tillage erosion;

- Will be able to propose a methodology on an experimental basis to quantify land degradation by water erosion at the plot scale or watershed ;

- Will be able to implement a simple model of water erosion in a GIS to assess the risk of erosion at the scale of the plot or watershed ;

- Will master the principles of soil conservation and will be able to propose practices, technologies or devices adapted to the socio-economic and technical context of operators and aiming at reducing erosion at the plot and watershed scale;

- Be able to communicate the results and conclusions of the simulations and experiments in the form of tables, graphs and scientific diagrams in a written report reflecting mastery of software tools essential for effective professional communication.

Drainage (1,5 ECTS) :

At the end of the course and lab, the student will be able to:

- Master the theoretical concepts underlying the flow of water into drains and design techniques of drainage;

- Assess the value of drainage on the basis of technical, economic and environmental considerations;

- Dimension a parallel drainage network using the relevant equations.

- Upon request, the lectures are given partly in English, but always illustrated by transparencies in French.

- Reference book in English.

- Practical work in the computer room lead the student to operational use of the RUSLE model.

- Practical work in the laboratory (grass strip, wind erosion)

- Exercise sessions (drainage, tillage erosion)

- The practicals, to be carried out in a team, and report writing stimulate collective work and the development of skills related to professional communication;

Classes :

Soil conservation

- Definitions, on- and off-site consequences of water erosion

- Forms of water erosion : interrill, rill, gully

- Factors of water erosion : rain, soil, terrain, cultural practices, crop

- Processes: detachment, transportation, storage

- Measurement of erosion

- Empirical ( RUSLE ) and deterministic modelling

- Principles and methods of soil conservation

* Wind erosion (2h)

* Tillage erosion (2h)

Drainage ( 8h)

- Functions of agricultural drainage in temperate and tropical regions

- Structure of a drainage network : arrangement, drains, envelope '

- Calculation of a drainage network using the equations of Hooghoudt , de Zeeuw and Hellinga , Glover - Dumm .

- Establishment of a network: principles and equipment

Practicals

Soil Conservation

- Use of the RUSLE model on simple and complex slopes, and management of a small virtual watershed

- Evaluation of a grass strip

- Measurement of saltation ( wind erosion)

- Estimation of tillage erosion on complex slope (spreadsheet)

Drainage

2 practicals with exercices using a spreadsheet, in preparation for the exam

Reference book : 'Soil conservation' de R.P.C. Morgan

Transparencies available on iCampus

Hand-out for the Drainage part, available on iCampus