# US 12,004,456 B2 · Method for monitoring water status in a field > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,456 B2 - Document ID: US12004456B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/959,679 - Filed: 2019-01-03 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-03 - Assignees: N-Drip Ltd. - Applicants: N-Drip Ltd. - Inventors: Uri Shani; Sharon Dabach - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004456B2 ## CPC - A01G 25/167: {Control by humidity of the soil itself or of devices simulating soil or of the atmosphere; Soil humidity sensors} - A01G 24/44: in block, mat or sheet form - G01N 19/10: Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers - G01N 33/246: {for water content} - G01N 33/245: {for agricultural purposes} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system for sensing water status in soil includes a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and a water status sensor that is hydraulically coupled to the porous material. The porous material is configured to have an area of at least 0.025 m2. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein a first portion of the porous material is selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 0.1-0.01 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −500 cm H2O respectively and a second portion of the porous material is selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 50-0 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −50 cm H2O respectively, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed from two different materials that are coupled to each other or the first portion is formed based on compacting the porous material with rolling or folding. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the porous material is woven geotextile. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the porous material is unwoven geotextile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the porous material is a strip of material with dimensions of 25-130 cm long and 2-50 cm wide. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein size of pores of the porous material is selected to decrease density of soil when positioned in the soil. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the porous material is at least one of soaked in a liquid solution in which fertilizer is dissolved, impregnated with fertilizer in the form of granulates housed within pores of the porous material and impregnated with fertilizer in the form of hydrogel including liquid or granular or slow release fertilizer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the porous material is formed with pockets configured for holding fertilizer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water status sensor is positioned in a pocket formed in the porous material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water status sensor is soil matric potential sensor or soil water content sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the soil matric potential sensor comprises: a porous cup; a water filled tube; a sensor; and probe extending from the sensor toward the porous cup, wherein the probe is configured to sample the water at a height below a height at which bubbles accumulate in the water filled tube. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the soil matric potential sensor comprises: a porous cup; a water filled tube; a sensor; a bridge shaped channel configured to provide fluid communication between the water filled tube and the sensor, wherein the bridge shaped channel is integrated with the tube and with a column extending from a peak height of the bridge, wherein the column is at a height above the sensor, and wherein the bridge shape channel is shaped as an arc with the column extending from the peak height of the arc or is shaped as an upside down Y and is configured to be filled with water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water status sensor is tensiometer and is configured to operate without connection to an external water reservoir. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water status sensor is a remote sensor that is configured to sense the water status of the porous material without physical contact with the porous material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water status sensor is configured to sense an average reading of the water status over the porous material. ### Claim 15 A method for sensing water status in soil comprising: laying a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2 on the soil; and hydraulically coupling a water status sensor to the porous material or sensing the water status of the porous material without physical contact with the porous material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the porous material is selected to have a hydraulic conductivity that is higher than an average hydraulic conductivity of the soil and between 0.01-50 cm/hour. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a first portion of the porous material is selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 0.1-0.01 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −500 cm H2O respectively and a second portion of the porous material is selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 50-0 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −50 cm H2O respectively, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed from two different materials that are coupled to each other or the first portion is formed based on compacting the porous material with rolling or folding. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the porous material is geotextile. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising at least one of soaking the porous material in a liquid solution or slow release fertilizer in which the fertilizer is dissolved and impregnating the porous material with fertilizer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the porous material is laid at depth of 5-50 cm under a surface of the soil and in a row over which cultivated plants are configured to be planted. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the porous material is laid over an emitter configured to emit water for irrigating the soil. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the water status sensor is a tensiometer that is a soil matric potential sensor or soil water content sensor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the water status sensor is configured to sense an average reading of the water status over the porous material. ### Claim 24 A sheet material configured to sample average water status of soil over a spatial area, the sheet material comprising: a first portion selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 0.1-0.01 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −500 cm H2O respectively; and a second portion selected to have a hydraulic conductivity between 50-0 cm/hour within a matric head range of 0 to −50 cm H2O respectively, wherein the first portion and the second portion are coupled to each other. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The sheet material of claim 24, wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed from two different materials, wherein the first portion is formed based on compacting the sheet material in a roll or in a fold or wherein the first portion has a tighter weave as compared to the second portion. ### Claim 26 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein the porous material is at least one of soaked in a liquid solution in which fertilizer is dissolved, impregnated with fertilizer in the form of granulates housed within pores of the porous material and impregnated with fertilizer in the form of hydrogel including liquid or granular or slow release fertilizer. ### Claim 27 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein the porous material is formed with pockets configured for holding fertilizer. ### Claim 28 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein the water status sensor is tensiometer and is configured to operate without connection to an external water reservoir. ### Claim 29 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein the water status sensor is soil matric potential sensor, which comprises: a porous cup; a water filled tube; a sensor; and probe extending from the sensor toward the porous cup, wherein the probe is configured to sample the water at a height below a height at which bubbles accumulate in the water filled tube. ### Claim 30 A system for sensing water status in soil comprising: a porous material selected for actively proliferating root growth and having an area of at least 0.025 m2; and a water status sensor that is coupled to the porous material; wherein the water status sensor is soil matric potential sensor, which comprises: a porous cup; a water filled tube; a sensor; and a bridge shaped channel configured to provide fluid communication between the water filled tube and the sensor, wherein the bridge shaped channel is integrated with the tube and with a column extending from a peak height of the bridge, wherein the column is at a height above the sensor, and wherein the bridge shape channel is shaped as an arc with the column extending from the peak height of the arc or is shaped as an upside down Y and is configured to be filled with water.