New Online Course Examines Critical Water Issues Related to Irrigation in Urban Watersheds

The area of land covered with turfgrasses is increasing with urbanization, which may have significant implications for water quantity and quality in urban watersheds.  Excessive irrigation may waste limited water resources and increase the potential for leaching or runoff.  Residential lawns represent the largest sector of turfgrass cover and the greatest opportunity for reducing water waste and improve water quality in urban watersheds.  A new online lawn-and-landscape irrigation course entitled “Water Issues in the Lawn and Landscape” is being offered at Kansas State University to examine critical water issues related to irrigation in urbanizing watersheds, with an emphasis on water quality and quantity.  The course is designed for students and professionals in industry who want to enhance their knowledge and careers through distance education.  This class is co-taught by four professors, each contributing from their own area of expertise during the design of the course.  In addition to conveying relevant content to students, the professors focused on the process in which the material was presented.  Specifically, they emphasized creating sense and meaning while developing each assignment and lecture.  If a lecture makes sense to the learner and there is meaning for the learner, the probability of storing the information is very high.  Students enrolled in the course learn about the interrelatedness of correct irrigation practices and water quality and quantity, and how to protect water resources through application of science-based irrigation practices.  Seven topical modules are presented in developmental order: homeowner perceptions; water availability and quality; relationship between irrigation practices and water quality; weather-based irrigation decision making; low-water-use-lawns and landscapes; auditing irrigation systems; and changing water users’ habits. Because class participants are primarily students and professionals in the turfgrass industry, they are in ideal positions to collectively improve irrigation practices by residential homeowners. These professionals could communicate to homeowners the importance of sustainable irrigation practices in their lawns by using knowledge and communication skills gained through their coursework.