Irrigation System With Soil Moisture Based Seasonal Watering Adjustment

Abstract

A soil moisture based irrigation system includes a stand alone irrigation controller with a seasonal adjust feature and a stand alone weather station including at least one soil moisture sensor. The soil moisture based irrigation system further includes a stand alone soil moisture control unit operatively connected to the irrigation controller and the soil moisture sensor. The soil moisture control unit includes programming configured to calculate an estimated soil moisture requirement value using a signal from the soil moisture sensor and to automatically modify a watering schedule of the irrigation controller through the seasonal adjust feature based on the estimated soil moisture requirement value to thereby conserve water while maintaining plant health.

1 . A soil moisture based irrigation system, comprising:
 a stand alone irrigation controller with a seasonal adjust feature;   a soil moisture sensor; and   a stand alone soil moisture control unit operatively in communication with the irrigation controller wherein the soil moisture sensor control unit includes programming configured to calculate a soil moisture requirement value using a signal from the soil moisture sensor and to automatically modify a watering schedule of the irrigation controller through the seasonal adjust feature based on the soil moisture requirement value.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the programming of the soil moisture control unit provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust feature based on the soil moisture requirement value as increased or decreased by the user through an inputted overall watering adjustment. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the programming of the soil moisture control unit provides the capability for entering a no-water window that automatically overrides the watering schedule. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system further comprises a temperature sensor and the soil moisture requirement value is calculated using signals from both from the soil moisture and the temperature sensor. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the moisture sensor control unit is operatively connected to the moisture sensor through a wireless communications link. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the soil moisture control unit is configured to receive power from the irrigation controller. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the soil moisture control unit is configured to modify the watering schedule of the irrigation controller through a data port of the irrigation controller. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the soil moisture control unit includes a pair of manually actuable controls configured to enable a user to input the overall watering adjustment by selectively increasing and decreasing the value of a constant used in calculating the soil moisture requirement value. 
   
   
       9 . A soil moisture based irrigation system, comprising:
 an interface that enables a user to select and/or enter a watering schedule;   a memory for storing the watering schedule;   at least one sensor for generating a signal representative of the soil condition;   a processor capable of calculating a soil moisture requirement value based at least in part on the signal from the sensor; and   a program executable by the processor to enable the processor to generate commands for selectively turning a plurality of valves ON and OFF in accordance with the watering schedule, the program including a seasonal adjust feature that provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule based on the soil moisture requirement value to thereby conserve water while maintaining plant health.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the interface further enables a user to input an overall watering adjustment and further wherein the program provides the capability for automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust feature based on the soil moisture requirement value as increased or decreased by the user through the inputted overall watering adjustment. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the program calculates the soil moisture requirement based on the signal from the soil moisture sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants and where data entered by the user determines at least one constant of a given irrigation site. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the program calculates the soil moisture requirement value based on the signal from the soil moisture sensor and a plurality of pre-programmed constants. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the interface includes a pair of manually actuable switches for selectively increasing and decreasing the soil moisture requirement value. 
   
   
       14 . A method of controlling a plurality of valves on an irrigation site, comprising the steps of:
 selecting and/or creating a watering schedule;   storing the watering schedule;   generating a signal representative of the soil condition on an irrigation site;   calculating a soil moisture requirement value based at least in part on the signal;   selectively turning a plurality of valves located on the irrigation site ON and OFF in accordance with the watering schedule; and   automatically modifying the watering schedule based on the soil moisture requirement value using a seasonal adjust algorithm to thereby conserve water while maintaining the health of plants on the irrigation site.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  and further comprising the step of inputting an overall watering adjustment and automatically modifying the watering schedule through the seasonal adjust algorithm based on the soil moisture requirement value as increased or decreased by the inputted overall watering adjustment. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the soil moisture requirement value is calculated based on the signal from a soil moisture measurement device and a plurality of predetermined constants. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the estimated soil moisture requirement value is calculated based on signals generated by a soil moisture sensor and a temperature sensor located on the irrigation site, and a plurality of predetermined constants. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the soil moisture requirement value is based on the signals generated by the sensors transmitted wirelessly across the irrigation site. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the soil moisture requirement value is calculated based on the signal and a plurality of predetermined constants and where data entered by the user determines at least one constant of a given site. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the soil moisture requirement value is calculated based on signals generated by a soil moisture sensor and a temperature sensor located on the irrigation site, and a plurality of predetermined constants and where data entered by the user determines at least one constant of a given site.