Irrigation scheduling and supervisory control and data acquisition system for moving and static irrigation systems
First Claim
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1. A method for managing the irrigation of plants comprising:
- a) mapping a geographical area subject to irrigation into two or more target control areas;
b) determining a diel progression of a plant canopy temperature change, Ts, for each of said control areas comprising;
1) measuring and recording a predawn canopy temperature, Te, of plants in the vicinity of said control areas;
2) measuring and recording a mean canopy temperature, Trmt,t, of plants in each of said control areas over a time interval, τ
, during a daylight time, t+nτ
, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0;
3) measuring and recording over each said time interval, τ
, during the course of a day, a mean reference canopy temperature, Tref, for plants of the same species grown under well-watered conditions in a reference area in the vicinity of said geographical area wherein the value of Tref which is measured coincident with the time as said Trmt,t for any control area is measured, is Tref,t; and
4) determining the diel progression of the canopy temperature change, Ts, for each of said control areas at each said time, t+nτ
;
c) determining a water stress index value, WSI, for each of said control areas at each said time, t+nτ
;
d) comparing each of said WSI values for each of said control areas to a threshold water stress index value, WSIe—
psp, wherein said WSIe—
psp is specific for said plant in said geographic area, and1) for each of said WSI which is greater than or equal to said WSIe—
psp, adding a unit to a WSI register to provide an integrated WSI, WSIe—
i orWSIe—
t, for each said control area;
e) comparing said WSIe—
i or WSIe—
t for each of said control areas to an encoded set-point value, WSIe—
ip, for a predetermined time period, and generating an irrigation signal for irrigation, or automatically initiating irrigation, of any control area wherein said integrated WSI is greater than or equal to said WSIe—
ip.
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Abstract
Irrigation of plants or crops is effected using plant canopy temperature measurements. The process and device include an irrigation scheduling algorithm based on an integrated water stress index (WSI) and an integrated WSI set-point. A WSI is calculated at repeated time intervals and compared to an encoded threshold WSI value that is crop and region specific. If the calculated WSI is greater than the encoded WSI value, a unit of integrated WSI (IWSI) is accumulated. If the time integral exceeds the encoded value for a 24 hour period, an irrigation signal is produced, directing the irrigation system where, when and how much to irrigate. The process and device will automatically schedule crop irrigations when the crop is water stressed and may control a moving or static irrigation system to apply the irrigation. Moreover, irrigation applications can be selectively varied over specified control areas or management zones.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for managing the irrigation of plants comprising:
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a) mapping a geographical area subject to irrigation into two or more target control areas; b) determining a diel progression of a plant canopy temperature change, Ts, for each of said control areas comprising; 1) measuring and recording a predawn canopy temperature, Te, of plants in the vicinity of said control areas; 2) measuring and recording a mean canopy temperature, Trmt,t, of plants in each of said control areas over a time interval, τ
, during a daylight time, t+nτ
, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0;3) measuring and recording over each said time interval, τ
, during the course of a day, a mean reference canopy temperature, Tref, for plants of the same species grown under well-watered conditions in a reference area in the vicinity of said geographical area wherein the value of Tref which is measured coincident with the time as said Trmt,t for any control area is measured, is Tref,t; and4) determining the diel progression of the canopy temperature change, Ts, for each of said control areas at each said time, t+nτ
;c) determining a water stress index value, WSI, for each of said control areas at each said time, t+nτ
;d) comparing each of said WSI values for each of said control areas to a threshold water stress index value, WSIe — psp, wherein said WSIe— psp is specific for said plant in said geographic area, and1) for each of said WSI which is greater than or equal to said WSIe — psp, adding a unit to a WSI register to provide an integrated WSI, WSIe— i orWSIe— t, for each said control area;e) comparing said WSIe — i or WSIe— t for each of said control areas to an encoded set-point value, WSIe— ip, for a predetermined time period, and generating an irrigation signal for irrigation, or automatically initiating irrigation, of any control area wherein said integrated WSI is greater than or equal to said WSIe— ip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for managing irrigation of plants comprising:
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a) one or more infrared thermometers effective for measuring plant canopy temperature in two or more target control areas and at least one reference area; b) a microprocessor for recording plant canopy temperature measurements, and calculating therefrom the diel progression of the plant canopy temperature change and a cumulative water stress index for each of said control areas, wherein said microprocessor is further effective for comparing said water stress index to a threshold water stress index value; and c) a register operatively connected to said microprocessor effective for accumulating units of water stress index in response to said microprocessor; wherein said microprocessor is also effective for comparing the accumulated units of water stress index in said register to a set-point value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for managing the irrigation of plants comprising:
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a) mapping a geographical area subject to irrigation into two or more target control areas; b) determining a diel progression of a plant canopy temperature change, Ts, for each of said control areas comprising; 1) measuring and recording the mean canopy temperature, Trmt,t, of plants in each of said control areas over a time interval, τ
, during a daylight time, t+nτ
, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 0;2) estimating a diel series of surface temperature of well-watered plants, Tref, using an iterative solution of the energy balance equations with a species-specific canopy resistance value at each said time, t+nτ
; and3) estimating the diel progression of surface temperature of each said control area at each said time, t+nτ
;c) determining a water stress index value, WSI, for each of said control areas at each said time, t+nτ
;d) comparing each of said WSI values for each of said control areas to a threshold water stress index value, WSIe — psp, wherein said WSIe— psp, is specific for said plant in said geographic area, and1) for each of said WSI which is greater than or equal to said WSIe — psp, adding a unit to a WSI register to provide an integrated WSI, WSIe— i orWSIe— t, for each said control area;e) comparing said WSIe — i or WSIe— t for each of said control areas to an encoded set-point value, WSIe— ip, for a predetermined time period, and generating an irrigation signal for irrigation, or automatically initiating irrigation, of any control area wherein said integrated WSI is greater than or equal to said WSIe— ip. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeUnited States Department Of Agriculture
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Original AssigneeUnited States Department Of Agriculture
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InventorsEvett, Steven R., O'Shaughnessy, Susan A., Peters, Robert Troy
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Primary Examiner(s)KASENGE, CHARLES R
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Application NumberUS13/403,091Time in Patent Office1,041 DaysField of Search700/284, 239/67, 239/69, 239/70, 702/130US Class Current700/284CPC Class CodesA01G 25/16 Control of wateringG05B 2219/23435 Select a program per zone t...G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, wate...Y02A 40/22 Improving land use; Improvi...
