Method and apparatus for variable application of irrigation water and chemicals

An apparatus for variable application of irrigation water to a plurality of zones within a field of ground to be irrigated which comprises:

• a plurality of independently operable sprinkler assemblies oriented in a fixed array relative to each other, with each of said sprinkler assemblies being operable to distribute an adjustable amount of water over a zone of ground;
• means for delivering water to each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array;
• means for moving the fixed array of sprinkler assemblies over the ground;
• control means operatively connected to the plurality of sprinkler assemblies and the means for moving the fixed array, for controlling the distribution of water over the zones of ground and variable adjusting the amount of water applied within the zones, said control means including:
• (a) ground mapping means for inputting information concerning irrigation requirements for a plurality of zones within the ground to be irrigated;
• (b) sprinkler assembly locator means for identifying the zonal position of each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array as the fixed array is moved across the ground;
• and
• (c) means responsive to the ground mapping means and the sprinkler assembly locating means, for adjusting the amount of water distributed from each of the sprinkler assemblies as they distribute water over zones of ground;
• and
• means for variably adjusting the amount of water being distributed by each of the sprinkler assemblies.

An apparatus for variable application of irrigation water to a plurality of zones within a field of ground to be irrigated which comprises:

• a plurality of sprinkler assemblies oriented in a fixed array relative to each other, with each of said sprinkler assemblies being operable to distribute an adjustable amount of water over a zone of ground;
• means for delivering water to each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array;
• control means operatively connected to the plurality of sprinkler assemblies for controlling the distribution of water over the zones of ground and variably adjusting the amount of water applied within the zones, said control means including:
• (a) ground mapping means for inputting information concerning irrigation requirements for a plurality of zones within the ground to be irrigated;
• (b) sprinkler assembly locator means for identifying the zonal position of each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array;
• (c) means responsive to the ground mapping means and the sprinkler assembly locating means, for adjusting the amount of water distributed from each of the sprinkler assemblies as they distribute water over zones of ground.

A method for applying variable amounts of irrigation water to a plurality of zones within a field of ground to be irrigated, using an irrigation system having a plurality of sprinkler assemblies oriented in a fixed array relative to each other, with each of said sprinkler assemblies being operable to distribute and adjust the amount of water sprinkled over a zone of ground, means for delivering water to each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array, and means for moving the fixed array of sprinkler assemblies over the ground, and control means operatively connected to the plurality of sprinkler assemblies and the means for moving the fixed array, for controlling the distribution of water over the zones of ground, which comprises:

• inputting data, regarding selected criteria for conditions within the field into the control means;
• generating zone definitions and a map of the field regarding the criteria related to the spatial data;
• inputting data identifying the position of the sprinkler assemblies into the control means;
• testing map positions which correspond to the current sprinkler assembly positions for the generation of sprinkler control codes dependent upon the information portrayed on the map;
• generating sprinkler control codes for operating the sprinkler assemblies;
• transmitting control codes to individual sprinkler assemblies;
• and
• applying variable amounts of water to the area within zones according to the input data.

A method for applying variable amounts of irrigation water to a plurality of zones within a field of ground to be irrigated, using an irrigation system having a plurality of sprinkler assemblies oriented in a fixed array relative to each other, with each of said sprinkler assemblies being operable to distribute and adjust the amount of water sprinkled over a zone of ground, means for delivering water to each of the sprinkler assemblies in the fixed array, and means for moving the fixed array of sprinkler assemblies over the ground, and control means operatively connected to the plurality of sprinkler assemblies and the means for moving the fixed array, for controlling the distribution of water over the zones of ground, which comprises

• inputting data, regarding selected criteria for conditions within the field into the control means;
• generating zone definitions and a map of the field regarding the criteria related to the spatial data;
• generating groups of sprinkler control codes, each corresponding to pre-selected group of sprinkler positions, by testing the map positions which correspond to the sprinkler assembly positions and generating codes dependent upon the information portrayed on the map;
• inputting data identifying the position of the sprinkler assemblies into the control means;
• transmitting a group of control codes corresponding to the current sprinkler position to the sprinkler assemblies;
• and
• applying variable amounts of water to the area within zones according to the input data.