Irrigation Needs Assessment Using Ground Moisture Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Irrigation systems that schedule water delivery without considering ground moisture content (GMC) often lead to over or under watering, causing crop damage, soil loss, and strain on water supply, with economic and ecological consequences.
Innovation Solution
An irrigation needs assessment service (INAS) utilizing GMC sensors and weather data to calculate irrigation needs, which can be shared across a network of sites, allowing for localized and efficient water delivery based on actual plant demands and weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If irrigation systems schedule water delivery without considering ground moisture content, then irrigation can be automated and操作简单, but over or under watering occurs causing crop damage and water waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors ground moisture content using GMC sensors and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust irrigation scheduling. The controller receives real-time moisture data and modifies water delivery accordingly, preventing both overwatering and underwatering while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The irrigation system serves itself by automatically monitoring its own operational needs through GMC sensors and adjusting water delivery without external intervention. The system self-regulates based on actual ground moisture conditions, eliminating the need for manual scheduling while preventing resource waste.
2Device complexity
If irrigation is applied without considering actual plant needs, then water delivery can be simplified, but crop damage and soil loss occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses GMC sensors to continuously monitor ground moisture content and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts irrigation delivery to match actual plant needs. This closed-loop control prevents crop damage from overwatering while avoiding the complexity of manual assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual irrigation scheduling and assessment with automated electronic sensing and control. GMC sensors and controllers substitute for human judgment and manual operations, reducing device complexity while preventing harmful effects through precise, data-driven water delivery.
3Duration of action of moving object
If fixed irrigation schedules are used, then water delivery can be planned in advance, but water supply strain increases and ecological damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, fixed irrigation schedules to dynamic scheduling that adapts to real-time ground moisture conditions. The controller continuously adjusts water delivery timing and amounts based on GMC sensor data, allowing flexible response to changing conditions while reducing overall water supply strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of irrigation delivery based on measured ground moisture content. Rather than following a fixed schedule, the controller modifies water delivery parameters (timing, duration, amount) in response to actual soil conditions, reducing water supply strain while maintaining effective irrigation planning.
Data Source
AI summary
An irrigation needs assessment system and method used to determine irrigation needs of one or more participants. The irrigation needs assessment system determines irrigation needs based on weather conditions, forecast weather conditions, plant water uptake, and ground moisture content information. Evaporation rate information is also provided from one or more other participants of the irrigation needs assessment service.