Agriculture

Master of Science in Irrigation and Soil Management

The Master of Science in Irrigation and Soil Management is a postgraduate programme that trains graduates in irrigation engineering, soil science, water management, and agricultural land management. The programme prepares graduates for advanced careers in irrigation management, soil conservation, agricultural water management, and land resource management.

Core areas include irrigation engineering, soil science, soil-water relationships, irrigation systems design, soil fertility management, drainage, water management, soil conservation, precision agriculture, and research methods. Students engage with theoretical foundations and practical irrigation and soil management applications.

The programme is offered by Moi University, Chuka University, and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, with Maseno University as a college. Moi University offers related MSc in Water Engineering and Agricultural Engineering. Chuka and Maseno offer MSc in Soil Science. JKUAT offers related MSc in Soil and Water Engineering at KES 130,000 per year.

Students develop competencies in irrigation system design, soil analysis, water management, soil fertility, drainage design, and research. The programme includes coursework, field work, design projects, examinations, supervised research, and thesis.

The programme is delivered over two years with full-time and part-time study modes. Egerton requires Upper Second in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, or related fields, or Lower with 2 years experience. JKUAT related programme fees are KES 130,000 per year. Egerton related MSc Soil Science total fees are KES 305,000.

Graduates pursue careers as irrigation engineers, soil scientists, water management specialists, agricultural consultants, and lecturers in irrigation agencies, agricultural organisations, consulting firms, government, and universities.

Skills Required

Irrigation Engineering and System Design
Soil Science and Soil Analysis
Soil-Water Relationships and Soil Physics
Irrigation Water Management and Scheduling
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
Drainage Design and Waterlogging Control
Soil Conservation and Erosion Control
Precision Agriculture and Soil Monitoring
Agricultural Water Resources Management
Irrigation and Soil Management Research Methods

Key Subjects

Irrigation Engineering
Soil Science
Soil-Water Relationships
Irrigation Systems Design
Soil Fertility Management
Drainage Design
Soil Conservation
Water Management
Precision Agriculture
Irrigation Research Methods

Certifications

ICID Irrigation Professional Certification
FAO Water Management Certification

Specializations

Irrigation Engineering

Focuses on irrigation engineering, irrigation system design, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, irrigation scheduling, and designing and managing irrigation systems.

Soil Science and Fertility

Examines soil science, soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil fertility, nutrient management, and understanding and managing soil properties and fertility.

Soil and Water Conservation

Covers soil conservation, erosion control, conservation structures, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and managing and conserving soil and water resources.

Drainage and Waterlogging Management

Focuses on drainage design, drainage systems, waterlogging control, salinity management, and managing and designing drainage for agricultural lands.

Precision Agriculture

Examines precision agriculture, soil sensors, soil monitoring, variable rate technology, GPS, GIS, and applying precision technology in irrigation and soil management.

Agricultural Water Management

Covers agricultural water management, water resources, water allocation, water use efficiency, deficit irrigation, and managing water resources for agriculture.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 187,200
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 20 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Irrigation Engineering
Soil Science
Soil-Water Relationships
Irrigation Systems Design
Soil Fertility Management
Drainage Design
Soil Conservation
Water Management
Precision Agriculture
Irrigation Research Methods

Modules

12 in the programme

Irrigation Engineering and System Design
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines irrigation engineering, irrigation principles, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, irrigation scheduling, and designing and managing irrigation systems.
Soil Science and Soil Properties
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers soil science, soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil classification, soil profiles, and understanding and managing soil properties.
Soil-Water Relationships and Soil Physics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines soil-water dynamics, soil moisture, infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil-water potential, hydraulic conductivity, and understanding soil-water interactions.
Irrigation Systems Design and Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers design of sprinkler systems, drip systems, surface irrigation, pipeline design, pump selection, irrigation network design, and planning and designing irrigation systems.
Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines soil fertility, nutrient management, fertilisers, organic matter, soil amendments, nutrient cycling, and managing and improving soil fertility.
Drainage Design and Waterlogging Control
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers drainage design, drainage systems, subsurface drainage, surface drainage, waterlogging control, salinity management, and designing and managing drainage.
Soil Conservation and Erosion Control
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines soil erosion, erosion control, conservation structures, terracing, contour farming, conservation agriculture, and managing and conserving soil.
Agricultural Water Management
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers water resources, water allocation, water use efficiency, deficit irrigation, rainwater harvesting, water harvesting, and managing water for agriculture.
Precision Agriculture and Soil Monitoring
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines precision agriculture, soil sensors, soil monitoring, variable rate technology, GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and applying precision technology in irrigation and soil management.
Irrigation and Soil Management Research Methods
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research methods for irrigation and soil management, experimental design, field methods, data analysis, and conducting irrigation and soil research, preparing students for their thesis.
Irrigation Project Planning and Management
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines irrigation project planning, project management, irrigation scheme management, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder participation, and planning and managing irrigation projects.
Research Thesis
Year 2Semester 26 creditsCore
Original research thesis on an irrigation and soil management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and irrigation and soil knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Irrigation Engineering
Focuses on irrigation engineering, irrigation system design, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, irrigation scheduling, and designing and managing irrigation systems.
Soil Science and Fertility
Examines soil science, soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil fertility, nutrient management, and understanding and managing soil properties and fertility.
Soil and Water Conservation
Covers soil conservation, erosion control, conservation structures, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and managing and conserving soil and water resources.
Drainage and Waterlogging Management
Focuses on drainage design, drainage systems, waterlogging control, salinity management, and managing and designing drainage for agricultural lands.
Precision Agriculture
Examines precision agriculture, soil sensors, soil monitoring, variable rate technology, GPS, GIS, and applying precision technology in irrigation and soil management.
Agricultural Water Management
Covers agricultural water management, water resources, water allocation, water use efficiency, deficit irrigation, and managing water resources for agriculture.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc Irrigation and Soil Management programme begins with morning lectures on irrigation engineering, soil science, or water management. Students engage in theoretical discussions on soil-water relationships, irrigation principles, and soil management. Irrigation engineering sessions cover irrigation principles, irrigation system design, sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, surface irrigation, irrigation scheduling, and designing and managing irrigation systems. Soil science sessions examine soil chemistry, soil physics, soil biology, soil classification, soil profiles, and understanding and managing soil properties. Soil-water relationship sessions cover soil-water dynamics, soil moisture, infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil-water potential, and understanding soil-water interactions. Irrigation systems design sessions examine design of sprinkler systems, drip systems, surface irrigation, pipeline design, pump selection, and designing irrigation systems. Soil fertility sessions cover soil fertility, nutrient management, fertilisers, organic matter, soil amendments, and managing and improving soil fertility. Drainage sessions examine drainage design, drainage systems, subsurface drainage, surface drainage, waterlogging control, and designing and managing drainage. Soil conservation sessions cover soil erosion, erosion control, conservation structures, terracing, contour farming, and managing and conserving soil. Water management sessions examine water resources, water allocation, water use efficiency, deficit irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and managing water for agriculture. Precision agriculture sessions cover soil sensors, soil monitoring, variable rate technology, GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and applying precision technology. Field work provides hands-on experience in irrigation system assessment, soil sampling, soil analysis, infiltration testing, and field irrigation evaluation. Design projects provide hands-on experience in designing irrigation systems, drainage systems, and soil management plans. Research methodology sessions prepare students for their thesis, covering irrigation and soil research methods, experimental design, and data analysis. Guest lectures from NIA engineers, WRA officials, KALRO researchers, FAO experts, and ICID fellows provide real-world insights. The two-year programme culminates in a research thesis.

The trade offs

In its favour

Kenya's food security needs, irrigation expansion, water scarcity, climate change, and agricultural development create high demand for qualified irrigation and soil management professionals.
Programme combines irrigation engineering with soil science, providing versatile skills for both irrigation and soil management career paths.
Career opportunities with NIA, WRA, KALRO, MoA, consulting firms, NGOs, and international organisations like FAO and ICID.
Programme is available with full-time and part-time modes, accommodating working professionals.

Against it

Programme requires agriculture, agricultural engineering, soil science, or related background, which may exclude some graduates.
Field work requires travel to irrigation schemes, farms, and field sites, which may be logistically challenging.
Laboratory work requires access to soil analysis equipment, irrigation testing facilities, and soil physics laboratories, which may vary across institutions.
Specific fee structures could not be independently verified from all official websites; estimates based on related programmes.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 303 agriculture courses

Public130k to 187k

130k at Chuka University187k at Moi University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Chuka 130K/yr (chuka.ac.ke), Moi ~187K/yr (worldscholarshipforum). Private unverified.

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KALRO supports agricultural research including irrigation and soil management. FAO supports agricultural water management capacity building. ICID supports irrigation and drainage professional development. NIA supports irrigation development in Kenya. The programme's irrigation and soil focus attracts government, research, and international organisation funding.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
KALRO Research Funding
FAO Water Management Funding

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate irrigation and soil management studies at recognised universities.
KALRO Research Funding
GrantKsh 300,000Kenyan
KALRO supports agricultural research including irrigation and soil management, providing funding for postgraduate research.
FAO Water Management Funding
GrantKsh 400,000
FAO supports agricultural water management capacity building, providing funding for training and research in irrigation globally.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: The programme accepts graduates from agriculture, agricultural engineering, soil science, environmental science, water resources, civil engineering, forestry, and related fields. Two-year programme with full-time and part-time modes. Egerton requires Upper Second or Lower with 2 years experience. JKUAT related programme fees KES 130,000/year. Egerton related MSc Soil Science total KES 305,000.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Assignments
Coursework30% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case studies, irrigation design exercises, soil analysis reports, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination30% of the mark
Written examinations covering irrigation engineering, soil science, water management, and drainage, conducted at end of each semester.
Field Work and Design Projects
Practical40% of the mark
Assessment of field work, irrigation system designs, soil analysis, drainage designs, irrigation project plans, and practical reports.
Research Thesis
Research100% of the mark
Original research thesis on an irrigation and soil management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and irrigation and soil knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Moi University offers related MSc in Water Engineering and Agricultural Engineering. Chuka and Maseno offer MSc in Soil Science. JKUAT offers related MSc in Soil and Water Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate irrigation and soil management training. NIA coordinates irrigation and WRA regulates water resources in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. Moi University offers related MSc in Water Engineering and Agricultural Engineering. Chuka and Maseno offer MSc in Soil Science. JKUAT offers related MSc in Soil and Water Engineering. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate irrigation and soil management training.
National Irrigation Authority (NIA)
Professional accreditation
NIA coordinates irrigation development in Kenya. Graduates working in irrigation may benefit from NIA professional affiliation and development opportunities.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Irrigation Engineer
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Designs and manages irrigation systems, overseeing irrigation design, installation, maintenance, and ensuring efficient irrigation for agriculture.
Soil Scientist
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Analyses and manages soils, overseeing soil analysis, soil fertility, soil classification, and supporting soil management and conservation.
Water Management Specialist
High demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages agricultural water resources, overseeing water allocation, irrigation scheduling, water use efficiency, and supporting water management.
Agricultural Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 500,000
Provides consulting on irrigation and soil management, advising farmers, organisations, and supporting agricultural development.
Drainage Engineer
Moderate demandKsh 110,000 to Ksh 450,000
Designs and manages drainage systems, overseeing drainage design, waterlogging control, salinity management, and ensuring effective drainage.
University Lecturer
High demandKsh 130,000 to Ksh 500,000
Teaches irrigation and soil management in universities, conducting research and training future irrigation and soil professionals.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as irrigation engineers, soil scientists, and water management specialists in irrigation agencies, agricultural organisations, and consulting firms.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

CROPWAT
SoftwarePrimary
FAO software for irrigation scheduling, crop water requirements, irrigation planning, and calculating crop water and irrigation requirements.
ArcGIS
SoftwarePrimary
GIS software for irrigation mapping, soil mapping, spatial analysis, land suitability, and applying GIS for irrigation and soil management.
HYDRUS
Software
Soil water flow and solute transport model for soil physics, water movement, solute transport, and simulating soil-water processes.
SPSS
Software
Statistical software for irrigation and soil research data analysis, field data analysis, and statistical modelling in irrigation and soil research.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Irrigation and soil management is just about watering crops.
The programme involves irrigation engineering, soil science, soil-water dynamics, drainage, precision agriculture, and research, covering comprehensive irrigation and soil management.
This programme is only for agriculture graduates.
The programme accepts graduates from agriculture, agricultural engineering, soil science, environmental science, water resources, civil engineering, and related fields.
There is limited demand for irrigation professionals in Kenya.
Kenya's food security needs, irrigation expansion, water scarcity, climate change, and agricultural development create high demand for qualified irrigation and soil management professionals.
Irrigation and soil management is not relevant in dryland areas.
Irrigation and soil management is particularly critical in Kenya's dryland areas where water scarcity and soil degradation are major challenges.
Traditional irrigation methods are sufficient and modern methods are unnecessary.
Modern irrigation methods including drip irrigation, precision agriculture, and efficient water management are essential for water conservation and agricultural productivity.
A master's in irrigation and soil management is redundant after a bachelor's in agriculture.
The master's provides specialised irrigation and soil skills, research capability, and career progression to senior irrigation and soil management positions.