US 8,024,074 B2 · System and method of managing substances in a plant root zone

Abstract

A method for managing substances in a plant root zone, including the steps of providing a fluid distribution system, controlling the fluid distribution system, modeling the plant root zone, and distributing the substances thereto. The fluid distribution system is associated with an agricultural area. The fluid distribution system is controlled by way of a controller. The plant root zone is modeled for a plurality of locations in the agricultural area. The modeling step incorporates a desired three-dimensional distribution of the substances for each of the plurality of locations for a future time period. Substances are distributed to the plurality of locations by way of the fluid distribution system under control of the controller. The controller is dependent upon the desired three-dimensional distribution and the future time.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for managing substances in a plant root zone, comprising the steps of:

providing a fluid distribution system associated with an agricultural area;
controlling the fluid distribution system by way of a controller;
modeling the plant root zone of a plurality of locations in the agricultural area, said modeling step incorporating a desired three dimensional distribution of the substances for each of said plurality of locations at a future time;
distributing the substances to said plurality of locations by way of the fluid distribution system under control of said controller, said controller being dependent upon said desired three dimensional distribution and said future time;
and
scheduling execution of said distributing step dependent upon at least one of a rate of distribution of the substances within a root zone level and a future need for the substances at the root zone level.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method of managing substances in a plant root zone

Life of this patent

System and method of managing substances in a plant root zone

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20