About the course

Building on the concepts and theories on Water Productivity presented in the first and second phases of the project, this self-administered course focuses on the problems posed by salinity and the most successful strategies to optimize irrigation management under saline conditions.

The course is composed by 2 modules:

• Module 1: Soil salinity and its impact on crop production
  
• Module 2: Optimization of the irrigation management under saline conditions

System requirements

This course can be accessed online without registration. It runs on the latests versions of major broses, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.

Audience

The present course targets national professionals and technicians from relevant ministries, research institutes, and national institutions related to irrigation management and crop production.

Module 1: Soil salinity and its impact on crop production

Learning objectives

• Identify the drivers of salt problems in the soil according to their different origins
• Recognize the impacts caused by salt-affected soils, especially in their effects on crop production
  
• Detect sources of information and tools available for salinity measurement in arid and semiarid regions
  

Structure of the course

• Section 1: Introduction to salinity problems
• Section 2: Effects of salinity on crops
• Section 3: Summary and exercises
  

Module 2: Effects of climate change on crops

Learning objectives

• Identify the main management techniques for salt-affected soils, and evaluate which are the most appropriate according to the specific conditions
• Understand how the distribution of salts occurs in the soil profile and the parameters by which we can intervene through irrigation management
  
• Use the AquaCrop model for the optimization of irrigation scheduling under saline conditions
  

Structure of the course

• Section 1: Integrated management of salt-affected soils
• Section 2: Irrigation systems and distribution of salts
• Section 3: Salt balance and leaching fraction
• Section 4: Optimization of irrigation scheduling under saline conditions with AquaCrop model
• Summary and practical exercises
  

Partners

The course has been developed by FAO Land and Water Division in collaboration with the University of Cordoba (Spain).

Thematic areas