Water irrigation system and method of controlling irrigation using evapotranspiration

• US 20050211792A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James Jolly Clark
• Original Assignee: James Jolly Clark
• Inventors: Small, David, Clark, James Jolly, Perkins, Michael T., Morgenstern, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/809,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20050211792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/67
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/167 Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors

Abstract

A water irrigation system may include a computer system, a sensing unit, an irrigation controller, and/or a water delivery system. The computer system may include regional evapotranspiration. The sensing unit may assess climatological conditions and provide output that is a function of the climatological conditions to the computer system. The computer system may assess zonal evapotranspiration at least partially based on the output provided by the sensing unit. The computer system may assess an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration. A method of controlling irrigation may include assessing climatological conditions, assessing zonal evapotranspiration based at least on the assessed climatological conditions, and controlling irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

Claims

1. A water irrigation system, comprising:

a computer system comprising regional evapotranspiration;

a sensing unit configured to assess climatological conditions near or in a zone to be irrigated and to provide output that is a function of the climatological conditions to the computer system, wherein the computer system is configured to assess zonal evapotranspiration at least partially based on the output provided by the sensing unit; and

wherein the computer system is configured to assess an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

2. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated to at least meet the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated.

3. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to assess the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions.

4. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to assess the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions, and wherein the computer system is configured to at least meet the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated.

5. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to assess a water requirement of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

6. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

7. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration, the assessed zonal evapotranspiration, and the assessed climatological conditions.

8. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to assess the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on a stress factor.

9. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to assess the irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on a type of vegetation in the zone to be irrigated.

10. The water irrigation system of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to control irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions.

11. The water irrigation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system.

12. The water irrigation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, and wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water.

13. The water irrigation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, and wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water, and one or more irrigation devices, wherein at least one of the irrigation devices is coupled to at least one of the conduits.

14. The water irrigation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more valves that are operated by the computer system, wherein at least one of the valves is coupled to one or more conduits, wherein at least a portion of each conduit is configured to carry water, and a source of water that is coupled to at least one of the conduits.

15. A method of controlling irrigation, comprising:

assessing climatological conditions near or in a zone to be irrigated;

using at least the assessed climatological conditions to assess zonal evapotranspiration; and

controlling irrigation of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal evapotranspiration.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling irrigation at least partially based on the assessed climatological conditions.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising assessing a water requirement of the zone to be irrigated at least partially based on the assessed zonal evapotranspiration and the regional evapotranspiration.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising assessing an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated at least partially as a function of a stress factor.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising assessing an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated, wherein the irrigation need is at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration and the assessed zonal transpiration.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising assessing an irrigation need of the zone to be irrigated, wherein the irrigation need is at least partially based on the regional evapotranspiration, the assessed zonal transpiration, and the assessed climatological conditions.