Method and apparatus using soil conductivity thresholds to control irrigating plants
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising the step of:
- operating an irrigation system delivering water to at least one plant, comprising the steps of;
determining a water absorption gradient based upon the difference of a present value and a past value, with both said present value and said past value as measured functions of soil conductance between at least two probes each separately located in soil near said plant; and
controlling said irrigation system based upon said water absorption gradients, further comprising of the step;
controlling at least one electric valve directing said water to said at least one plant based upon said water absorption gradient, further comprising one of the steps;
turning-off said electric valve when said difference is less than or equal to said first threshold multiplied by said present value; and
turning-off said electric valve when said difference is less than said first threshold multiplied by said present value.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus determining the water absorption gradient and controlling the irrigation system based upon the water absorption gradient. The means for determining uses at least a first electrical coupling and a second electrical coupling, which electrically couple with a first probe and a second probe, placed in the soil near the at least one plant.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the step of:
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operating an irrigation system delivering water to at least one plant, comprising the steps of; determining a water absorption gradient based upon the difference of a present value and a past value, with both said present value and said past value as measured functions of soil conductance between at least two probes each separately located in soil near said plant; and controlling said irrigation system based upon said water absorption gradients, further comprising of the step; controlling at least one electric valve directing said water to said at least one plant based upon said water absorption gradient, further comprising one of the steps; turning-off said electric valve when said difference is less than or equal to said first threshold multiplied by said present value; and turning-off said electric valve when said difference is less than said first threshold multiplied by said present value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, comprising the step of:
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operating an irrigation system delivering water to at least one plant, comprising the steps of; determining a water absorption gradient based upon the difference of a present value and a past value, with both said present value and said past value as measured functions of soil conductance between at least two probes each separately located in soil near said plant, further comprises the step; creating a soil conductivity scale ratio from said difference divided by said present value; and controlling said irrigation system based upon said water absorption gradient, further comprising the step; controlling at least one electric valve directing said water to said at least one plant based upon said water absorption gradient, further comprising one of the steps; turning-off said electric valve when said soil conductivity scale ratio is less than or equal to said first threshold; and turning-off said electric valve when said soil conductivity scale ratio is less than said first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method, comprising the step of:
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operating an irrigation system delivering water to at least one plant, comprising the steps of; determining a water absorption gradient based upon a present value and a past value, with both said present value and said past value as measured functions of soil conductance between at least two probes each separately located in soil near said plant; and controlling said irrigation system based upon said water absorption gradient, comprising the step; controlling at least one electric valve directing said water to said at least one plant based upon said water absorption gradient, comprising one of the steps; turning-on said electric valve when said difference is less than or equal to said negative of said second threshold multiplied by said present value; and turning-on said electric valve when said difference is less than said negative of said second threshold multiplied by said present value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method, comprising the step of:
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operating an irrigation system delivering water to at least one plant, comprising the steps of; determining a water absorption gradient based upon a difference of a present value and a past value, with both said present value and said past value as measured functions of soil conductance between at least two probes each separately located in soil near said plant; creating a soil conductivity scale ratio as said difference divided by said present value; and controlling said irrigation system based upon said water absorption gradient, further comprising the step; controlling at least one electric valve directing said water to said at least one plant based upon said water absorption gradient, comprising one of the steps; turning-on said electric valve when said soil conductivity scale ratio is less than or equal to said negative of said second threshold; and turning-on said electric valve when said soil conductivity scale ratio is less than said negative of said second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification