Irrigation system including electronic independent observer integration with fertigation system

A monitoring system for an irrigation system operatively coupled to a water source, the irrigation system including at least one nozzle and a product source that supports a product for mixing with water from the water source for forming an irrigation fluid, the monitoring system comprising:

• a sensor configured to generate a first electrical signal indicative of a travel speed of at least a portion of the irrigation system or a travel direction of at least a portion of the irrigation system;
• a fluid pressure sensor configured to generate a second electrical signal indicative of a flow rate of the irrigation fluid through the at least one nozzle;
• at least one of a variable speed pump or a valve operatively coupled to the product source to enable the product to be dispensed from the product source;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory, including instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the monitoring system to:
• receive the first and second generated electrical signals;
• determine an applied rate of the irrigation fluid over a predetermined irrigation area based on the first and second electrical signals;
• determine an angular rate of the at least one nozzle and a time the at least one nozzle spent going forward and/or reverse based on the first electrical signal;
• determine that the at least one nozzle pivots more than a predetermined number of degrees without the at least one nozzle dispensing the irrigation fluid;
• and
• provide an indication to a user that a location in the predetermined irrigation area was not fertilized with the product based on the determination.

A monitoring system for an irrigation system, the irrigation system including a moveable end gun operatively associated with a portion of the irrigation system, the monitoring system comprising:

• a sensor configured to couple to the moveable end gun, and configured to generate an electrical signal indicative of movement and/or positioning of the moveable end gun relative to the portion of the irrigation system over time;
• a product storage tank coupled to the irrigation system, the product storage tank configured to dispense a product;
• at least one of a variable speed pump or a valve configured to control a flow rate of the product from the product storage tank to the moveable end gun;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory, including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor cause the system to:
• receive the generated electrical signal;
• determine an applied rate of the product over a predetermined area, based on the electrical signal;
• at least one of actuate the valve or vary the speed of the variable speed pump based on the determined applied rate;
• determine an angular rate of the moveable end gun and a time the moveable end gun spent going forward and/or reverse based on the generated electrical signal;
• determine that the moveable end gun pivots more than a predetermined number of degrees without the moveable end gun dispensing the product;
• and
• provide an indication to a user that a location in the predetermined area was not fertilized with the product based on the determination.

A computer-implemented method for monitoring an irrigation system, the irrigation system operatively coupled to a water source, the irrigation system including at least one nozzle and a product source that supports a product for mixing with water from the water source for forming an irrigation fluid, the method comprising:

• receiving a first electrical signal generated by a sensor configured to generate a first electrical signal indicative of a travel speed of at least a portion of the irrigation system or a travel direction of at least a portion of the irrigation system;
• receiving a second electrical signal generated by a fluid pressure sensor configured to generate a second electrical signal indicative of a flow rate of the irrigation fluid through the at least one nozzle;
• determining an applied rate of the irrigation fluid over a predetermined irrigation area based on the first and second electrical signals;
• and
• adjusting the flow rate of the irrigation fluid through the at least one nozzle by at least one of:
• actuating a valve operatively coupled to the product source to enable the product to be dispensed from the product source;
• or
• changing the speed of a variable speed pump based on the determined applied rate, the variable speed pump is operatively coupled to the product source to enable the product to be dispensed from the product source;
• determining an angular rate of the at least one nozzle and a time the at least one nozzle spent going forward and/or reverse based on the first electrical signal;
• determining that the at least one nozzle pivots more than a predetermined number of degrees without the at least one nozzle dispensing the irrigation fluid;
• and
• providing an indication to a user that a location in the predetermined irrigation area was not fertilized with the product based on the determination.