Patent ID: 6314340
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
An irrigation controller, comprising:a memory for storing extraterrestrial radiation influenced equivalent evaporation data for a certain site;means for measuring temperature data at that certain site;a processing unit connected to the memory and receptive of the temperature data, the processing unit operable to execute an irrigation application program which:calculates solely from the received temperature data and the stored extraterrestrial radiation influenced equivalent evaporation data relating to the certain site a reference evapotranspiration value indicative of an estimation of the current watering needs of a certain reference vegetation at that certain site;adjusts the reference evapotranspiration value to account for both a user specified local adjustment factor and a type of vegetation at the site, wherein the local adjustment factor accounts for noted regionalization inaccuracies in the solely temperature/radiation calculated reference evapotranspiration value, to calculate a net evapotranspiration value indicative of an estimation of the current watering needs of the type of vegetation at that certain site;determines a watering program for the certain site; andimplements the determined watering program to have the processing unit issue commands for controlling the actuation of irrigation control valves at the site to replace lost water.