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Diploma · 800 h · 8 modules
Diploma in Seawater for Agriculture and Saline Crops
The Diploma in Seawater for Agriculture and Saline Crops Prepares you to use seawater and desalinated water for crop production in coastal and arid regions. You will study the physiology of salt tolerance, growing halophytes such
Duration800 h
FormatOnline
Starts23 November
Places20 / 20
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Programme overview
What is the Diploma in Seawater for Agriculture and Saline Crops?
The Diploma in Seawater for Agriculture and Saline Crops
Prepares you to use seawater and desalinated water for crop production in coastal and arid regions. You will study the physiology of salt tolerance, growing halophytes such as samphire, irrigating with desalinated water and its quality challenges, managing saline soils, seawater greenhouses and other emerging systems, and the viability of these production models.
Key advantages
- A response to scarcity: Farming alternatives for regions short of fresh water.
- A scientific grounding: Plant physiology and soil science applied to salinity.
- New crops: Halophytes for food, fodder and other uses.
- Desalinated water for irrigation: Quality, blending and fertigation.
- Case study: Designing a farming system using seawater or desalinated water.
Programme type
Diploma
Study mode
Online
Duration
800 hours
Modules
8
Programme highlights
- Understand salinity: Learn how salt affects soils and plants.
- Grow halophytes: Get to know salt-tolerant species and how to manage them.
- Irrigate with desalinated water: Manage its agronomic quality.
- Design systems: Plan greenhouses and integrated systems using seawater.
- Boost your career: Open doors to farms, cooperatives, engineering firms and research centres.
- Train to grow crops on arid coasts with the water the sea provides.
Curriculum
Programme Structure
The programme is structured in 8 modules, listed below in order of study.
01
Water, Salinity and Agriculture
- Water scarcity and coastal farming
- Salinisation of soils and aquifers
- Seawater intrusion
- Non-conventional water sources
- Irrigation water quality
- Salinity and sodicity indices
- Classifying irrigation water
- The framework for saline agriculture
02
The Physiology of Salt Tolerance
- Salt stress in plants
- Osmotic and ionic stress
- Salt exclusion mechanisms
- Ion compartmentalisation
- Osmotic adjustment
- Glycophytes and halophytes
- Breeding for tolerance
- Measuring tolerance in the field
03
Halophytes and Salt-Tolerant Crops
- Halophyte diversity
- Samphire and other succulents
- Fodder halophytes
- Oilseed halophytes
- Tolerant conventional crops
- Food and culinary uses
- Other uses of halophytes
- Markets and value chains
04
Managing Saline Soils
- Diagnosing soil salinity
- Sampling and analysis
- Leaching fraction
- Agricultural drainage
- Amendments for sodic soils
- Organic matter and structure
- Mulching and tillage
- Monitoring salinity
05
Irrigation with Desalinated Water
- Characteristics of desalinated water
- Boron and sodium problems
- Remineralisation for agricultural use
- Blending with other water
- Tailored fertigation
- Drip irrigation
- Cost of water to the farmer
- Examples of irrigation with desalinated water
06
Seawater Greenhouses and Emerging Systems
- Seawater greenhouses
- Evaporative cooling with salt water
- Small-scale solar desalination
- Hydroponics with brackish water
- Systems integrated with aquaculture
- Saline aquaponics
- Technology maturity
- Scale-up challenges
07
Viability, Environment and Management
- Production costs
- Market analysis
- Impacts on soils and aquifers
- Managing saline drainage
- Biodiversity and wild halophytes
- Water use regulation
- Project planning
- Sustainability indicators
08
Case Study: A Farming System Using Seawater or Desalinated Water
- Choosing the site
- Water and soil diagnosis
- Selecting crops
- Designing the irrigation system
- Salinity management plan
- Cost estimate
- Environmental assessment
- Presenting the case
Workload
Study Time and Workload
800 hours of study, online and at your own pace. Move the slider to the hours a week you can really put in.
Hours a week8
Weeks to finish—
You finish around—
Who it is for
Agronomists and agricultural technicians: working in water-scarce areas Biologists and environmental scientists: interested in halophyte plants Irrigation association staff: who use or plan to use desalinated water Agri-food entrepreneurs: looking for new crops Development specialists: working on food security in coastal areas
Faculty
Academic direction and faculty
The teaching team at Navalis: working professionals who deliver and oversee the institute's programmes.
Eng. Diego Cifuentes
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Eng. Tomás Riera
Verified reviews
Student Reviews
Reviews collected and verified by Opynio, not written by us.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- 01Understand salt tolerance
- 02Know the useful halophytes
- 03Manage saline soils
- 04Use desalinated water for irrigation
- 05Design integrated systems
- 06Assess viability
Careers
Career Opportunities
01Saline agriculture specialist: Advising farms in coastal areas.
02Irrigation specialist: Managing desalinated water and fertigation.
03Halophyte specialist: Producing and developing new crops.
04Agri-environmental consultant: Salinity studies and soil management.
05Agricultural R&D technician: Trials of salt-tolerant crops.
06Development specialist: Food security projects.
Questions
Entry Requirements
No. Untreated seawater is only suitable for halophytes and a few highly tolerant crops; everything else needs desalinated or brackish water.
A halophyte plant that grows on saline soils and is eaten as a vegetable; it is one of the best-known saline crops.
It may contain boron and lack calcium and magnesium, so it usually needs adjusting before agricultural use.
There are pilot schemes and prototypes, but they remain an emerging technology whose viability depends heavily on context.
You design a farming system for a specific coastal area using seawater or desalinated water.
100% online, with a virtual campus available 24/7, live sessions that are recorded, and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The programme involves 800 hours of study. You can work at your own pace within the timetable we give you when you enrol.
Each programme has its own start date, shown on this page and confirmed by our admissions team when you enquire.
On completing the programme you receive the Diploma in Seawater for Agriculture and Saline Crops qualification awarded by Navalis Magna Institute.
Online admissions
Admissions Process
No waiting for a phone call. If your documents are complete, you can pay in the same session.
Entry requirements
Entry profile: A degree in agronomy, biology, environmental science, marine science or a related field; or professional experience in agriculture or the water sector. Language: A good working level of English to follow classes and materials. Technical requirements: A computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a webcam for live sessions and project presentations. Admissions process: Online application, profile review and a short interview with the academic team. We confirm your start date when you enquire.
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
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