System and method for turning irrigation pivots into a soil and plant radar

Abstract

A method of automatically managing a center pivot irrigation machine comprising steps of: (a) providing at least one center pivot irrigation machine and positioning said center pivot irrigation machine such that said center pivot irrigation machine is movable within an irrigated plot around a center thereof; (b) providing a ground penetration radar; (c) mounting said ground penetration radar on said center pivot irrigation machine; (d) moving said center pivot irrigation machine about said center of said irrigated plot; (e) scanning said irrigated by said ground penetration radar at frequencies ranging between 200-1200 MHz; (f) calculating a distribution of soil moisture over a depth from a soil surface; and (g) creating an irrigation plan according to said distribution.

1 . A center pivot irrigation machine comprising: a proximity soil sensor configured for obtaining volumetric water content data pertaining to croplands treated by said plurality of center irrigation machines; said center pivot irrigation machines is configured for
 a. moving said center pivot irrigation machine about said center of said irrigated plot;   b. scanning said irrigated plot by said proximity soil sensor;   c. calculating a distribution of soil moisture over a depth from a soil surface; and   d. creating an irrigation plan according to said distribution.