Computer controlled fertigation system and method

• US 7,937,187 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig L. Kaprielian
• Original Assignee: FW Enviro, LLC
• Inventors: Kaprielian, Craig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US12/839,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 700/14, 700/16, 700/284, 702/19, 702/22, 702/30, 47/10.1 R, 47/201, 47/211, 47/485, 47/581.R, 47/581.SC, 47/655, 47/661, 47/666, 47/667, 47/79, 137/78.2, 137/78.3, 239/63, 405 36- 38
• US Class Current: 700/284
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/042 Adding fertiliser to watering systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/189 Soil moisture sensing

Abstract

A system and a method of computer controlled irrigation and fertigation composed of one or more sensors positioned in order to quantify the amount of water and/or nutrients that a plant is consuming. By controlling the fertigation, the plant or a part thereof, has improved yield and quality.

Claims

1. A method of fertigation comprising the steps of:

growing a plant in an elevated berm;

providing at least one sensor for measuring the total water consumption by the plant in the elevated berm;

analyzing data from said at least one sensor to determine the amount of water and nutrients to be delivered to the plant; and

delivering the determined amount of water and nutrients to the plant by an irrigation device at a predetermined schedule.

2. The method of fertigation according to claim 1, wherein data from at least one sensor is analyzed by a central processing unit.

3. The method of fertigation according to claim 1, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit determines the timing of irrigation events.

4. The method of fertigation according to claim 1, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit determines the amount of water to be applied during an irrigation event.

5. The method of fertigation according to claim 1, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit is used in preparing the concentration of each nutritional component.

6. The method of fertigation according to claim 1, wherein said irrigation device is a drip irrigation line.

7. A method of fertigation comprising the steps of:

growing a plant in an elevated berm;

providing at least one sensor for measuring the total water consumption by the plant in the elevated berm;

providing at least one additional sensor from the group consisting of a stem diameter sensor, a fruit diameter sensor, a leaf temperature sensor, a relative-rate sap sensor, an infrared sensor, a near-infrared sensor and a stem auxanometer;

analyzing data from said sensors to determine the amount of water and nutrients to be delivered to the plant; and

delivering the determined amount of water and nutrients to the plant by an irrigation device at a predetermined schedule.

8. A method of fertigation comprising the steps of:

selecting a plant from the group consisting of angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes;

growing the plant in an elevated berm;

providing at least one sensor for measuring the total water consumption by the plant in the elevated berm;

analyzing data from said at least one sensor to determine the amount of water and nutrients to be delivered to the plant; and

delivering the determined amount of water and nutrients to the plant by an irrigation device at a predetermined schedule.

9. A fertigation system comprising:

a central processing unit;

at least one sensor for measuring total water consumption by a plant in an elevated berm;

a first communication device to send data from said at least one sensor to the central processing unit;

at least one mixing tank containing nutrients and water;

at least one injector;

a second communication device to send instructions from the central processing unit to said at least one injector;

an irrigation device for delivering water and nutrients to the plant;

wherein the central processing unit analyzes the data from said at least one sensor and controls fertigation by determining the amount of water and nutrients to be delivered to the plant and instructing said at least one injector to deliver water and nutrients from said at least one mixing tank to the plant through the irrigation device.

10. The fertigation system according to claim 9, wherein data from said sensor is analyzed by said central processing unit.

11. The fertigation system according to claim 9, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit determines the timing of irrigation events.

12. The fertigation system according to claim 9, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit determines the amount of water to be applied during an irrigation event.

13. The fertigation system according to claim 9, wherein the analysis from said central processing unit is used in preparing the concentration of each nutritional component.

14. The fertigation system according to claim 9, wherein said irrigation device is a drip irritation line.

15. A fertigation system comprising:

a central processing unit;

at least one sensor for measuring total water consumption by a plant in an elevated berm;

at least one additional sensor from the group consisting of a stem diameter sensor, a fruit diameter sensor, a leaf temperature sensor, a relative-rate sap sensor, an infrared sensor, a near-infrared sensor and a stem auxanometer;

a first communication device to send data from said sensors to the central processing unit;

at least one mixing tank containing nutrients and water;

at least one injector;

a second communication device to send instructions from the central processing unit to said at least one injector; and

an irrigation device for delivering water and nutrients to the plant;

wherein the central processing unit analyzes the data from said sensors and controls fertigation by determining the amount of water and nutrients to be delivered to the plant and instructing said at least one injector to deliver water and nutrients from said at least one mixing tank to the plant through the irrigation device.