Irrigation system and method

Abstract

A method and system for irrigating a field (156) adjacent a watercourse (14) is disclosed comprising a plurality of pumps (62) along the watercourse (14) and measuring from time to time at a plurality of measuring locations the salinity, the pH, the temperature and the turbidity of the water. The measuring locations are different from the pumping locations. A real time salinity, pH, temperature and turbidity at the pumping locations is predicted from the measured values and the pumps selectively disabled or enabled on the predicted salinity, pH, temperature and / or the turbidity. Additionally, there is disclosed an Alternate Wetting and Drying, AWD method / system for irrigating a field (156) using a pump (62) comprising an outlet supplying water to the field (156) and an inlet (30) connected to a water source (162). The method / system comprises a sensor (12) placed at a location in the field (156) for sensing a water depth below a surface of the field (156) and transmitting the water depth to a controller (72) located remotely from the sensing location using a wireless connection. The controller (72) enables the pump (62) when the sensed water depth is below a threshold depth and disables the pump (62) when the sensed water depth is above a threshold depth.