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Agrohydrology

Course developer

Prior knowledge

VidZD009, Environmental Engineering

Course abstract

The aim of the course is to introduce doctoral students to the latest scientific knowledge about hydrological processes and formation of water pollution in agricultural lands. The tasks of the course are to provide doctoral students with knowledge and understanding of the interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors in the evaluation and analysis of quantitative and qualitative parameters of water.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge:
- in-depth knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and current scientific knowledge regarding the natural water cycle and agricultural drainage systems in agricultural lands;
- in-depth knowledge and understanding of the relationships, causes and effects of soil, water and air pollution.
Evaluation - final examination.
Skills:
- to critically assess the conditions of different farming operations and select practical measures to reduce and eliminate soil, water and air pollution;
- to independently organize and conduct research work including identification of a particular problem, analysis of causes, identification and implementation of possible solutions.
Evaluation - final examination.
Competences:
- to integrate the acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills in research work, which is thematically related to the directions of environmental engineering implemented in the study programme.
Evaluation - final examination.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Soil as an environmental component, soil formation processes, soil properties. Latvian soil classification, international soil classification systems. (1 h)
2. Types of water in soil, hydrophysical properties of soil. Water movement within the soil profile.
3. Methods for assessing soil water regimes. Role of soil water regimes in diffuse pollution. Need for a control over soil water regimes (drainage, irrigation) in Latvia. (1 h)
4. Agricultural drainage. Tasks, methods, types and systems of agricultural drainage. Suitability of water courses for draining agricultural areas. (1 h)
5. Irrigation. Tasks, methods, types and systems of agricultural irrigation. Watering equipment. Water supply network and water sources. (1 h)
6. Importance and content of the Land drainage cadastre. Applications of the Land drainage cadastre information system. (1 h)
7. Characteristics and importance of pollution from agricultural activities in the context of inland water, including surface and groundwater, and marine waters. Eutrophication and its indicators, limiting factors and effects. Role of plant nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) in the eutrophication processes. Transformation of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in the soil and water. (2 h)
8. Point source and diffuse pollution from agricultural sources. (1 h)
9. Characteristics and functions of the Agricultural runoff monitoring programme. Methods and technological solutions used for monitoring activities. Requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU Nitrates Directive for monitoring of water quality and quantity. Development of the Agricultural runoff monitoring system in Latvia and Nordic countries. (1 h)
10. Balance of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil and water. Nutrient balance at soil profile, drainage field and small catchment in agricultural areas. (1 h)
11. Transformation processes of water pollution in a soil-subsurface drainage-open drainage-river system. (1 h)
12. Role of hydrological processes in losses of nitrogen and phosphorus. Characterization and evaluation of nutrient losses. Modelling of pollution. Hydrological and hydrochemical models for evaluation and analysis of nutrient losses. (1 h)
13. Application of geographic information systems in acquisition, analysis and visualization of geospatial data. (1 h)
14. Sustainable management of soil and water resources. (1 h)

15. Implementation of environmentally friendly drainage systems to reduce nutrient losses in agricultural lands including sedimentation ponds, two-stage ditches, bottom dams, meandering, controlled drainage, constructed wetlands, woodchip bioreactors, saturated buffers. (1 h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Passed final examination.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Doctoral students independently study scientific literature and the topics as indicated in the study plan.
Doctoral students analyze findings, problems and methodological approaches as described in scientific literature.
Doctoral students prepare a literature review on one of the topics identified in the study plan.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The study results are evaluated in the final examination - a discussion on the topics defined in the study plan. For qualitative evaluation of the final examination, the 10-point scale is used for grading according to the Study Regulations of LLU.

Compulsory reading

1. Baghdadi N., Zribi M. Land Surfaces Remote Sensing in Agriculture and Forest. 1st Edition. London : ISTE Press; Oxford: Elsevier, 2016. 496 p. ir LLU FB 1 eks. E-grāmata (PDF) Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā
2. Brassington R. Field Hydrogeology, Third Edition. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2007. 265 p. ir LLU FB 1 eks E-grāmata (PDF) Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā
3. Brooks K.N., Ffolliott P.F., Magner J.A. Hydrology and the Management of Watersheds. Fourth Edition. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2013. 533 p. ir LLU FB 1 eks. E-grāmata (PDF) Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā
4. Burt T.P., Heatwaite A.L., Trudgill S.T. Nitrate. Processes, Patterns and Management. John Willey & Sons, 1993. 444 p.
5. Cardoso A.C., Duchemin J., Magoarou P., Premazzi G. Criteria for the Identification of Freshwaters Subject to Eutrophication. European Commission. Joint Research Centre, 2001. 87 p. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 11.10.2019.]. Pieejams: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/26a9c3bb-a4c2-11e7-837e-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
6. Dixon B., Uddameri V. GIS and Geocomputation for Water Resource Science and Engineering. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016. 545 p. ir LLU FB 1 eks E-grāmata. (PDF). {Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}

7. Gustafson A. Leaching Losses of Nitrogen from Agricultural Soils in the Baltic Sea Area. In: Sustainable Agriculture. The Baltic University Programme. Uppsala University Baltic University Press, 2012, pp. 65-81. [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 29.10.2019.]. Pieejams: file:///C:/Users/fbuic/Downloads/sustainable-agriculture-chapter-08.pdf
8. Hardisty J., Taylor D.M., Metcalfe S.E. Computerized Environmental Modeling. John Willey & Sons, 1994. 204 p.
9. Heritage G.L., Large A.R.G. Laser Scanning for the Environmental Sciences. Chichester, West Sussex : Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2009. 278 p.
E-grāmata. (PDF). {Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā
10. Jakobsson C. Sustainable Agriculture. The Baltic University Programme, 2012. 505 p.
11. Li D., Liu S. Water Quality Monitoring and Management - 1st Edition. London: Academic Press, 2018. 368 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
12. Liebig M., Franzluebbers A.J., Follett R. Managing Agricultural Greenhouse Gases - 1st Edition. London: Academic Press, 2012. 572 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
13. Mather P.M., Koch M. Computer Processing of Remotely-Sensed Images: An Introduction, Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, West Sussex: Blackwell Inc., 2011. 434 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
14. Matlock M.D., Morgan R.A. Ecological Engineering Design: Restoring and Conserving Ecosystem Services. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. 339 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
15. McBride G.B. Using Statistical Methods for Water Quality Management: Issues, Problems and Solutions. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005. 316 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
16. Natural Resources Conservation Service of USDA. Irrigation Guide. National Engineering Handbook, 1997. Part 662. Nav lielākajās b-kās
17. Nyer E.K. Groundwater Treatment Technology, Third Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009. 442 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
18. Ritzema H.P. Drainage principles and applications. Wageningen, 1994. 1125 p [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 29.10.2019.]. Pieejams: https://www.samsamwater.com/library/pub162.pdf.
19. Schuenemeyer J.H., Drew L.J. Statistics for Earth and Environmental Scientists. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011. 407 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}
20. Simon A., Bennett S.J., Castro J.M. Stream Restoration in Dynamic Fluvial Systems. Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union, 2011. 544 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}
21. Sommer S.G., Christensen M.L., Schmidt T., Jensen L.S. Animal Manure Recycling: Treatment and Management. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2013. 356 p. E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}
22. Stefanakis A., Akratos C., Tsihrintzis V. Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands. 1st Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 2014. 392 p E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}
23. Tunney H., Carton O.T., Brookers P.C., Johnston A.E. Phosphorus loss from soil to water. CAB International, 1997. 467 p.
24. Webster R., Oliver M.A. Geostatistics for Environmental Scientists. 2nd Edition. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2007. 317 p.E-grāmata. (PDF).
{Resurss pieejams tiešsaistē LLU datortīklā}

Further reading

Claesson S., Steneck S. Plant Nutrient Management and the Environment. Special Report 41. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 1996. 69 p.
European Environment Agency. Nutrients in European Ecosystems. Environmental Assessment Report No.4, 1999. 155 p. Nav LLU FB ir LUB
Guidelines For The Monitoring Required Under The Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC). EC, 2004. 67 p.
The Implementation of Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the Protection of Waters against Pollution caused by Nitrates from Agricultural Sources https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:51997DC0473&from=GA

Periodicals and other sources

Meliorācijas kadastra informācijas sistēma –
https://www.melioracija.lv/
Latvijas Ģeotelpiskās informācijas aģentūra –
https://www.lgia.gov.lv/lv/atvertie-dati
LLU Fundamentālā bibliotēka –
https://llufb.llu.lv/lv/datubazes-un-katalogi

Notes

Doctoral study programme in Environmental Engineer