METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE MAGNITUDE OF AN IRRIGATION EVENT IN A SECTION OF SOIL, AND RELATED SYSTEMS

摘要

A method for determining an amount of moisture that has entered a section of soil via irrigation, includes sensing at a first moment in time a total amount of moisture in a sub-section of the section of soil, and in response to the amount sensed at the first moment in time, determining a total amount of moisture, W_initial, in the section of soil at the first moment in time. Sensing at a second, subsequent moment in time a total amount of moisture in a sub-section of the section of soil, and in response to the amount sensed at the second moment in time, determining a total amount of moisture, W_tot, in the section of soil at the second moment in time. Then, comparing the two W_initial and W_tot by, for example, subtracting W_initial from W_tot. The method also includes determining an amount of moisture that has entered the section of soil during a period between the first and second moments in time via natural precipitation, and determining an amount of moisture that has left the section of soil during the period between the first and second moments in time. Then, adding to the comparison of the two W_initial and W_tot the determined amount of moisture that has left the section of soil, and subtracting from this amount the determined amount of moisture that has entered the section of soil.