WATER AND FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20100332039A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AutoAgronom Israel Ltd. (Shenyang Yuanda Enterprise Group)
• Original Assignee: AutoAgronom Israel Ltd. (Shenyang Yuanda Enterprise Group)
• Inventors: Danieli, Nissim
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 21/007 Determining fertilization requirements
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering

Abstract

A monitoring system is provided for monitoring the growing conditions of plants in the vicinity of the roots. In addition, it is provided a system that applies real-time analysis of the growing process parameters and takes into consideration components such as plant, soil, climate, fertilizer and water. A management system based on the real-time analysis is designed that computes the amount of water and fertilizer needed every day to the

Claims

1. A field monitoring unit capable of sensing parameters related to conditions in the soil in the vicinity of a root zone, the field monitoring unit comprises at least one sensor adapted to directly sense the parameters and to transfer data to a database.

2. A field monitoring unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said field monitoring unit comprises a tensiometer capable of measuring changes in the water potential in the root vicinity.

3. A field monitoring unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a pump capable of sucking solution from the soil in the vicinity of a root zone;

container adapted to receive said solution;

at least one sensor capable of sensing parameters of said solution wherein measured values are transferred to database.

4. The field monitoring unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a pH sensor.

5. The field monitoring unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a nitrate sensor.

6. The field monitoring unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of said at least one sensor is an electrical conductivity sensor.

7. A water and fertilizer management system comprises:

at least one field monitoring unit, wherein each one of said at least one field monitoring unit comprises at least one sensor adapted to directly sense parameters related to soil;

communication system capable of receiving the parameters from said at least one field monitoring unit;

a controller unit capable of activating irrigation and fertilizing systems in accordance with parameters related to soil that are received from said at least one field monitoring unit.

8. The management system claimed in claim 7, further comprising a computer adapted to establish a database from the parameters related to soil and to process the database so as to transfer information to said controller unit, wherein said controller unit activates said irrigation and fertilizing systems in accordance with said database.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said monitoring unit comprises a tensiometer capable of measuring changes in the water potential in the root vicinity.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a pH sensor.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a nitrate sensor.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein one of said at least one sensor is an electrical conductivity sensor.

13. The management system claimed in claim 7, wherein said communication system communicated through a computer net.

14. The management system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said communication system is cellular.

15. A method for managing water and fertilizer system, said method comprising:

positioning at least one field monitoring unit in soil in the vicinity of a root zone, said at least one field monitoring unit is capable of sensing parameters related to conditions in the soil, wherein said at least one field monitoring unit comprises at least one sensor;

transferring the parameters to a processor so as to establish a database;

providing a controller capable of activating the water and fertilizing system in accordance to the parameters in the database.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein providing information in accordance to the parameters involves:

model growing data presenting desired parameters'"'"' values for optimal grows for different crops;

a sub-method to compare the sensed data with the model and establishing desired amount of water and fertilizing needed and values to set up the controller.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said monitoring unit comprises a tensiometer capable of measuring changes in the water potential in the vicinity of the root.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a pH sensor.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of said at least one sensor is a nitrate sensor.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein one of said at least one sensor is an electrical conductivity sensor.

21. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein data is transferred to the model from multiple users.