Current trends in soil moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling indicate the need for an inexpensive easy-to-use technology that is both effective in maintaining optimum soil moisture conditions and requires minimum field service as well as being a non-electrical stand alone system. Tensiometers have a long history in the irrigation industry where recent attempts to communicate soil conditions to transducers and valve networks have proven effective. However, existing mechanisms need periodic maintenance to remove air accumulation in the sensor while the water reservoir needs to be re-filled periodically. In response to needs resulting from these technical drawbacks, an improved non-electrical hydro- mechanical moisture sensor and irrigation controller has been invented (patents pending). This device is easily adjustable to a wide spectrum of soil moisture requirements. At the same time it is self purging as well as self priming. The proposed research is directed at field testing prototype valves, which have already been constructed, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of using this technology in agriculture as well as in domestic landscapes.
Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:: Successful development of a non-electrical, self purging, and self priming irrigation controller offers a practical solution for water conservation and sustained agriculture or landscape production. Empirical data will guide researchers toward the ultimate goal of manufacturing soil moisture initiated irrigation controllers. This carries important commercial and economic implications as water prices increase and natural resources are depleted, potentially saving U.S. consumers and the irrigation industry millions of dollars per year.
