APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS AND FOR MAINTAINING SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS

摘要

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and aprocess which is low-cost, simple to use, reliable and long-livedand will effectively monitor the moisture condition of a volumeof soil. In accordance with the invention, a light transmittingrod is placed into the soil so that its lower end is within thesoil and its upper end is visible from outside the soil volume.The lower end of the rod is beveled to reflect light entering therod from its upper end back toward the upper end. In accordancewith the method of the present invention, observance of thepresence or absence of light at the upper end of the roddetermines the moisture content of the soil. That is, thepresence of light confirms that the soil is dry, whereas theabsence of light (a dark end) confirms that the soil is moist.In accordance with the apparatus of the present invention, therod is placed into the soil and a light sensor is placed adjacentto or on the upper end of the rod to control a pump or valve forproviding water to the soil.