Reference-Field Crop Coefficients for Sensor-Light Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current irrigation systems face inefficiencies in planning water resources for crops, leading to overwatering or underwatering due to inaccurate calculations of crop coefficients, especially without installed crop evapotranspiration sensors, resulting in suboptimal crop production and mismatch between theoretical and actual irrigation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that computes a dynamic crop coefficient using data from crop evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration sensors, allowing for precise irrigation planning for target crops without installed sensors by leveraging data from geographically distinct reference fields, and adjusting irrigation events based on real-time weather data and crop conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If crop evapotranspiration sensors are installed in every target field to measure actual water consumption, then irrigation planning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a reference field with installed sensors to generate crop coefficient data that is then copied and applied to multiple target fields without sensors. The reference field acts as a template, and its measured parameters (crop coefficients, evapotranspiration rates) are transferred to target fields through the irrigation planning system, eliminating the need to install expensive sensor equipment in every field while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computation system that processes sensor data from the reference field and generates applicable irrigation parameters for target fields. This intermediary layer (the irrigation planning system) mediates between the physical sensor measurements and the practical irrigation application, allowing data from one location to inform decisions at multiple other locations without direct sensor installation at each site.
2Ease of operation
If static crop coefficient values from standard tables are used for irrigation planning, then ease of operation is improved, but irrigation efficiency deteriorates due to mismatch between theoretical and actual conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static crop coefficient values to dynamic, time-varying crop coefficients that are continuously updated based on actual sensor measurements from the reference field. The system calculates crop coefficients for different growth stages and time periods, allowing the irrigation plan to adapt dynamically to changing environmental conditions, crop development, and weather patterns, thereby significantly improving irrigation efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity through automated computations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where actual evapotranspiration measurements from sensors in the reference field continuously inform and update the irrigation planning for target fields. The system uses this feedback to refine crop coefficient values and adjust irrigation schedules, creating a closed-loop system that learns from actual conditions and improves planning accuracy over time, bridging the gap between theoretical tables and field reality.
3Device complexity
If irrigation planning is performed without real-time weather data and dynamic crop coefficients, then device complexity is reduced, but water resource optimization deteriorates leading to overwatering or underwatering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of crop coefficients and irrigation requirements based on historical weather data and reference field measurements before the actual irrigation events occur. The system pre-computes irrigation schedules and water requirements for different time periods, allowing farmers to plan irrigation activities in advance with high accuracy, thereby optimizing water resource allocation and preventing both overwatering and underwatering while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables more accurate and efficient water application for target crops, optimizing water usage and crop quality by using computed dynamic crop coefficients to adjust irrigation intervals daily or weekly, even without on-site sensors, thereby improving irrigation efficiency and crop production.
Implementation Method 1
computing a value of a crop evapotranspiration parameter from electrical signals outputted by at least one crop evapotranspiration sensor and indicative of an amount of water consumed by a reference crop
Implementation Method 2
computing a value of a potential evapotranspiration parameter from electrical signals outputted by at least one potential evapotranspiration sensor and indicative of weather conditions associated with a reference field
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method of planning irrigation, comprising: performing for a certain interval of time: computing a value of a crop evapotranspiration parameter indicative of an amount of water consumed by a reference crop, computing a value of a potential evapotranspiration parameter indicative of weather conditions associated with the field of the reference crop, computing a value of a dynamic crop coefficient for the reference crop based on the crop evapotranspiration parameter and the potential evapotranspiration parameter, and providing the dynamic crop coefficient computed for the certain time interval of time of the reference crop that corresponds to a target time interval of a target growing season of the target crop, wherein the target crop is growing in a target field which is geographically distinct from the reference field, and outputting instructions for irrigation of the target crop according to an irrigation plan based on the dynamic crop coefficient.