초록 ▼

The present invention is a method of controlling an irrigation system that minimizes the use of irrigation water comprising defining a stop time for each watering event that is as late as possible to maximize the statistical contribution of predicted or actual rainfall to the proper watering of crop

The present invention is a method of controlling an irrigation system that minimizes the use of irrigation water comprising defining a stop time for each watering event that is as late as possible to maximize the statistical contribution of predicted or actual rainfall to the proper watering of crops or turf. High rain probabilities cause deferral of the watering event. The present invention includes the embodiments of watering the largest water volume/water flow rate zone last, measuring the actual water applied and using mathematical curve-fitting techniques incorporating historical data from recent watering events to calculate actual plant/soil response to applied water for each irrigated zone.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of controlling a watering event of an irrigation system to minimize irrigation water use comprising:defining a late as possible end time for the current watering event, calculating the start time for the watering event based on the defined end time of the watering event, the water delive

1. A method of controlling a watering event of an irrigation system to minimize irrigation water use comprising:defining a late as possible end time for the current watering event, calculating the start time for the watering event based on the defined end time of the watering event, the water delivery capacity of the irrigation system and the water requirements of the plants and soil being irrigated, measuring the rainfall since the prior watering event before the calculated start time of the current watering event, and recalculating the start time for the current watering event including the contribution of water from the rainfall to the water requirements of the plants and soil being irrigated.