This audit procedure was developed for use in a landscape or growing area where overhead sprinklers cover the entire area and therefore should have relatively uniform application. It also will work for a drip irrigation system set out in many rows in a block. A single lateral down a growing bed under an over wintering house presents a different situation where there may not be overlap from another lateral line. The sprinklers on the one lateral are overlapped considerably to try to compensate. The uniformity by this procedure is expected to be somewhat lower than in the first situation mentioned. However, the audit evaluation is useful in comparing different situations. In any case, the grower wishes to have uniform application. An audit takes some effort but it is worthwhile to have this management information for decision making.
The purpose of this section of the module is to prepare and collect all equipment needed for the audit, collect data on the system, examine that data, and prepare the results and recommendations from the study. The report should identify any additional equipment problems, determine actual system performance based on uniformity tests, and then make recommendations for implementation. It is expected that the system had been inspected and at least minor repairs were completed as described in earlier sections.
The site for the audit test may be selected because it is a known problem site. There are no hard and fast guidelines for selecting a site. The site or sites may be representative of the overall system. It might be a trouble area as mentioned.
Goals and objectives for this section:
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Learners will identify equipment problems and make minor repairs in advance.
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Learners will learn how to prepare an initial site report before an audit
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Learners will learn what equipment is needed for an audit
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Learners will learn how to set up and collect water application data
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Learners will learn how to analyze the data and report it
References:
Rochester, Jr., E. W., Irrigation System Performance Audit – Instructor Laboratory Manual (Classroom Irrigation Module), Irrigation Association Education Foundation, 6540 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042-6638, July 2005, ED.005.A, www.iaef.org
Rochester, Jr., E. W., Irrigation System Performance Audit – Student Laboratory Manual (Classroom Irrigation Module), Irrigation Association Education Foundation, 6540 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042-6638, July 2005, ED.005.B, www.iaef.org
Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (Training Manual), September 2004, The Irrigation Association, 6540 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church, VA 22042-6638, (703) 536-7080, www.irrigation.org, email education@irrigation.org
Acknowledgement of materials: The Irrigation Association Education Foundation (IAEF) of The Irrigation Association has developed training manuals, powerpoints, and work sheets for doing irrigation audits. Material in this module was developed in part from these resources. Contact the IAEF for materials.
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