Registration Now Open!
The 2025 International Microirrigation School For Crop Production will be offered for the first time in California on October 13-17, 2025. It will involve three days of instruction at the University of California at Davis, and two days of field trips in the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Coast of California.
Instruction will include practical class lectures given by the world’s foremost experts on Microirrigation for Crop Production and a published text book on Microirrigation.
View the detailed program at this link:
https://caii.org/international-micro-irrigation-school/
This is a special one-time opportunity for this international school to be in California.
Class size is limited to only 100 registrants.
Register today!"
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON MICROIRRIGATION FOR CROP PRODUCTION
University of California, Davis - October 13-17, 2025
Final Schedule of Class Lectures at UC Davis Conference Center (Days 1-3) and Field/Demonstration Visits (Days 4-5)
Day 1 (October 13, 2025) – Topics: General Aspects of Microirrigation
- Introduction to Microirrigation: Definition; Advantages and Constraints; Types of Microirrigation Systems; Statistics on Microirrigation Use Worldwide; Enabling Conditions for Successful Adoption of Microirrigation (J. Ayars)
- Hydrological and Basin-scale Considerations for Microirrigation (P. Steduto)
- Water Delivery Requirements for Successful Adoption of Microirrigation (E. Rothberg)
- Microirrigation Systems’ Components and Functions (I. Bisconer)
- Water Movements and Storage with Microirrigation in Various Soil Types (B. Sanden)
- Plant-Water Dynamics (K. Shackel)
- Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (P. Steduto)
- Methods and Tools for Microirrigation Scheduling for Orchards and Vineyards (D. Zaccaria; M. Cahn)
- Irrigation for Frost Protection and Evaporative Cooling (R. Snyder)
- Considerations on Sub-surface Drip Irrigation (J. Ayars)
08:00 – 08:30 am: Coffee and Refreshments
08:30 – 08:45 am: Welcome to the International School on Microirrigation and Logistic Information
Session 1 – General Introduction and Hydrologic/Basin-scale Considerations. Coord’s: J. Ayars; P. Steduto
08:45 – 09:15 am: Introduction to Microirrigation (J. Ayars)
09:15 – 09:45 am: Hydrologic and Basin-scale Considerations for Microirrigation (P. Steduto)
09:45 – 10:15 am: Water Delivery Requirements for Successful Adoption of Microirrigation (E. Rothberg)
10:15 – 10:45 am: Microirrigation Systems’ Components and Functions (I. Bisconer)
10:45 – 11:15 am COFFEE BREAK
Session 2 – Soil and Plant Water Dynamics in Microirrigated Cropping Systems. Coord’s: P. Steduto; K. Shackel
11:15 – 11:45 am: Water Movements and Storage with Microirrigation in Various Soil Types (B. Sanden)
11:45 – 12:15 pm: Plant-Water Dynamics (K. Shackel)
12:15 – 12:45 pm: Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum (P. Steduto)
12:45 – 1:45 pm LUNCH
Session 3 – Microirrigation Scheduling. Coord’s: D. Zaccaria; M. Cahn
1:45 – 2:30 pm: Methods and Tools for Microirrigation Scheduling in Specialty Crops (D. Zaccaria; M. Cahn)
2:30 – 3:15 pm: Outdoor Field Session on Measuring Soil and Plant Water Status (M. Cahn; K. Shackel; C. Albuquerque)
3:15 – 3:30 pm COFFEE BREAK
Session 4 – Microirrigation for Micro-climate Control. Considerations on Sub-surface Drip Irrigation. Coord’s: K. Bali; J. Ayars
3:30 – 4:00 pm: Irrigation for Frost Protection and Evaporative Cooling (R. Snyder)
4:00 – 4:30 pm: Energy Supply and Demand for Microirrigation (A. Aghajanzadeh)
4:30 – 5:00 pm: General Considerations on Sub-surface Drip Irrigation (J. Ayars)
5:00 – 5:30 pm: Questions & Answers
5:45 – 7:45 pm – Social Dinner with Sponsors and Exhibitors at the UC Davis Conference Center
6:30 – 7:30 pm – Tributes to Irrigation Research Leaders (G. H. Hargreaves; J. Keller; F. Lamm; C. Phene)
Day 2 (October 14, 2025) - Topics: Microirrigation System Design and Operation
- Design Principles for Microirrigation Systems (D. Zaccaria)
- Hydraulics for Microirrigation Systems (O. Lagos)
- Filtration and Fertigation Systems (K. Bali; M. Culumber)
- Design and Operational Considerations for Pumps, Valves, and Flow/Pressure Control Devices (I. Bisconer)
- Microirrigation Systems Operation, Monitoring, and Maintenance (M. Cahn)
- Performance Evaluation of Microirrigation Systems and Financial Considerations (I. Bisconer)
- Microirrigation System Automation and Monitoring (A. Rehnvall; B. Sanden; J. Nichols)
08:30 – 09:00 am: Coffee and Refreshments
Session 5 – Design Criteria and Hydraulics for Microirrigation Systems. Coord’s: O. Lagos; D. Zaccaria
09:00 – 09:30 am: Design Criteria and Procedure for Resource-Efficient Microirrigation (D. Zaccaria)
09:30 – 10:00 am: Hydraulics for Microirrigation Systems (O. Lagos)
10:00 – 10:30 am: Practical Exercise Session on Microirrigation Design and Hydraulics (O. Lagos)
10:30 – 11:00 am COFFEE BREAK
Session 6 – Filtration and Fertigation Systems, Pumps, Valves, and Flow/Pressure Control Devices. Coord’s: K. Bali; M. Culumber
11:00 – 11:30 am: Filtration Systems, Operation, and Monitoring (K. Bali)
11:30 – 12:00 pm: Chemical Injection Systems, Operation, and Monitoring (M. Culumber)
12:00 – 12:30 pm: Design and Operational Considerations for Pumps, Valves, and Flow/Pressure Control Devices (I. Bisconer)
12:30 – 1:30 pm LUNCH
Session 7 – Operation, Monitoring, Maintenance, and Field Evaluation of Microirrigation Systems. Coord’s: M. Cahn; I. Bisconer
1:30 – 2:00 pm: Microirrigation System Operation, Monitoring, and Maintenance (M. Cahn)
2:00 – 2:30 pm: Criteria and Metrics for Evaluating Field Performance of Microirrigation Systems (I. Bisconer)
2:30 – 3:00 pm: A Novel Tool for Evaluating Microirrigation Performance and Financial Considerations (I. Bisconer)
3:00 – 3:30 pm COFFEE BREAK
Session 8 – Microirrigation System Automation and Monitoring. Coord’s: B. Sanden; J. Nichols
3:30 – 4:00 pm: Principles of Irrigation Automation (A. Rehnvall)
4:00 – 4:30 pm: Automation and System Monitoring Components (B. Sanden)
4:30 – 5:00 pm: Irrigation Planning, Safety, Resource Conservation, and Success Stories (J. Nichols)
5:00 – 5:30 pm: Questions & Answers
5:30 pm ADJOURN
5:45 – 7:45 pm – Social Hours and Refreshments with Sponsors and Exhibitors at the UC Davis Conference Center
Day 3 (October 15, 2025) - Topics: Microirrigation Management for Various Crops
- Management of Microirrigation for: Field and Agronomic Crops; Vegetable Crops; Berry Crops, Fruit Crops; Nut Crops; Grape Vineyards (K. Bali; M. Cahn; A. Biscaro; A. Fulton; T. DeJong; M. Fidelibus)
- Application of Chemical Materials (D. Amaral; Z. Wang)
- Application of Biological Effluents (G. Vivaldi)
- Salinity Management (J. Ayars; M. Culumber; E. Scudiero)
08:30 – 09:00 am: Coffee and Pastry
Session 9 – Microirrigation Management Strategies for Annual and Berry Crops. Coord’s: K. Bali; M. Cahn
09:00 – 09:20 am Field and Agronomic Crops (K. Bali)
09:20 – 09:40 am: Vegetable Crops (M. Cahn)
09:40 – 10:00 am: Berry Crops (A. Biscaro)
10:00 – 10:30 pm: Practical Exercise Session on Microirrigation Management for Annual and Berry Crops. Questions & Answers (K. Bali; M. Cahn; A. Biscaro)
10:30 – 11:00 am COFFEE BREAK
Session 10 – Microirrigation Management Strategies for Perennial Crops. Coord’s: M. Culumber; D. Zaccaria
11:00 – 11:30 am: Nut Crops (A. Fulton)
11:30 – 12:00 pm: Fruit Crops (T. DeJong)
12:00 – 12:30 pm: Grape Vineyards (M. Fidelibus)
12:30 – 1:30 pm LUNCH
Session 11 – Application of Chemicals and Biological Effluents. Coord’s: M. Cahn; M. Culumber
1:30 – 2:00 pm: Main Criteria for Nutrient Management with Microirrigation Systems (D. Amaral)
2:00 – 2:30 pm: Application of Agrochemicals through Microirrigation Systems (Z. Wang)
2:30 – 3:00 pm: Application of Biological Effluents with Microirrigation Systems. Impacts on Plants and Soils (G. Vivaldi)
3:00 – 3:30 pm COFFEE BREAK
Session 12 – Salinity Management with Microirrigation. Coordinators: J. Ayars; K. Bali
3:30 – 4:00 pm: Quantifying and Mapping Soil Salinity and Sodicity (E. Scudiero)
4:00 – 4:30 pm: Irrigation Water Quality Considerations (M. Culumber)
4:30 – 5:00 pm: Leaching and Salinity Management Practices (J. Ayars)
5:00 – 5:15 pm: Q&A Session on Salinity Management Practices (J. Ayars; M. Culumber; K. Bali)
5:15 – 5:45 pm: School Lectures Closing and Delivery of Completion Certificates (J. Ayars; M. Culumber; O. Lagos; D. Zaccaria; K. Bali; M. Cahn)
5:45 pm ADJOURN
Day 4 (October 16, 2025): Field/Demonstration Visits in the San Joaquin Valley (Modernized Irrigation Water Delivery Systems; Irrigation/Fertigation Automation; Nut Crops; Fruit Crops. Coordinators: D. Zaccaria; M. Culumber; K. Bali
7:00 am: Departure from Davis and drive to Turlock, CA
Visit 1 – Modernized Irrigation Water Delivery Systems: Turlock Irrigation District (TID) – Turlock, CA
09:00 – 11:00 am: Turlock Irrigation District Headquarter (TID Personnel; E. Rothberg)
11:00 – 11:30 am: Lunch at Turlock Irrigation District Headquarter
11:45 – 12:30 pm: Laterals 7 and 8; Ceres Regulating Reservoir, Automated Gates and Irrigation Delivery Offtakes + Q&A (TID Personnel; E. Rothberg)
12:30 – 2:30 pm: Drive to Hanford, CA
Visit 2 – HotSpot Ag: Hanford, CA
2:30 – 3:00 pm: Rationale and Metrics for Performance Evaluation of Microirrigation Systems (J. Anshutz)
3:00 – 3:30 pm: Automation of Microirrigation and Fertigation for Fruit and Nut Crops and Vineyards + Q&A
(J. Nichols)
Visit 3 – Nichols Farms: Hanford, CA
3:45 – 4:45 pm: Irrigation, Nutrient, and Salinity Management in Pistachio and Almond Production Orchards + Q&A (D. Amaral; M. Culumber; J. Nichols; D. Zaccaria)
4:45 pm ADJOURN
5:30 pm: Dinner at the Visalia County Club (optional);
7:00 pm: Drive to Coalinga and overnight stay at Harris Ranch – Coalinga, CA
Day 5 (October 17, 2025): Field/Demonstration Visits in Salinas/Monterey Areas (Vineyards, Vegetable and Berry Crops). Coordinators: M. Cahn; L. Bettiga; C. Albuquerque
7:30 am: Departure from Harris Ranch – Coalinga, CA and drive to Soledad, CA
Visit 1 – Zabala Vineyards (Soledad, CA)
9:30 – 11:30 am CIMIS Weather Station; Measurement of Vine Water Status; Irrigation Scheduling with Drip Systems in Vineyards; Validation of Satellite Remote Sensing-based ET versus ground-based ET for Vineyards; Q&A (M. Cahn; L. Bettiga; C. Albuquerque)
11:45 – 1:00 pm LUNCH
Visit 2 – Cool-season Vegetable Production Farm (Soledad, CA)
1:30 – 3:00 pm: Drip Irrigation System Design and Management; Irrigation and Nutrient Management Practices for Cool-season Vegetables; Q&A (M. Cahn)
Visit 3 – Berry Crops Production Farm (Salinas, CA)
3:30 – 4:30 pm: Irrigation System Design; Irrigation and Nutrient Management Practices for Strawberry; Q&A (M. Cahn)
4:45 pm ADJOURN
5:00 – 8:00 pm: Vans drive back to Davis, CA.
List of Instructors, Titles, and Affiliations
- James Ayars: Research Agricultural Engineer (retired) - USDA-Agriculture Research Service, Fresno, CA
- Pasquale Steduto: Senior Water Scientist, LAWR Department - University of California, Davis
- Eric Rothberg: Sales Manager North America - Rubicon Water, Fort Collins, CO
- Inge Bisconer: Irrigation Consultant and Past President, Irrigation Association – San Diego, CA
- Blake Sanden: Agronomy and Irrigation Advisor (Emeritus) - University of California Cooperative Extension Kern County
- Kenneth Shackel: Professor, Department of Plant Sciences - University of California, Davis
- Caetano Albuquerque: Professor, Department of Biology and Chemistry – California State University Monterey Bay
- Daniele Zaccaria: Professor & Agricultural Water Management Specialist, LAWR Department - University of California, Davis
- Michael Cahn: Irrigation and Water Resource Advisor – University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey County
- Richard Snyder: Bio-meteorology Specialist (Emeritus), LAWR Department - University of California, Davis
- Arian Aghajanzadeh: Founder of Klimate Consulting, Inc. – San Francisco, CA.
- Octavio Lagos: Professor, School of Agricultural Engineering - University of Concepcion, Campus of Chillan (Chile)
- Khaled Bali: Irrigation Water Management Specialist – University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Mae Culumber: Nut Crop Advisor – University of California Cooperative Extension Fresno County
- Anders Rehnvall: CEO at EZE System Inc. - Folsom, CA
- James Nichols: President – HotSpot Ag, Hanford, CA
- Andre Biscaro: Irrigation Advisor – University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
- Allan Fulton: Irrigation and Water Resource Advisor (Emeritus) – University of California Cooperative Extension Tehama, Glenn, Colusa, and Shasta Counties
- Teodhore DeJong: Distinguished Professor & Pomologist Emeritus, Department of Plant Sciences- University of California, Davis
- Matthew Fidelibus: professor of Viticulture and Enology for Cooperative Extension, Department of Viticulture and Enology - University of California, Davis
- Doug Amaral: Nut Crop Farm Advisor – University of California Cooperative Extension Kings County
- Zheng Wang: Vegetable Crop Advisor - University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County
- Gaetano Alessandro Vivaldi: Professor - Universita’ degli Studi Aldo Moro, Bari (Italy)
- Elia Scudiero: Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences – University of California, Riverside
- James Anshutz: Founder AGH2O – Fresno, CA
Larry Bettiga: Viticulture Farm Advisor – University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey County