Irrigation system and method

Abstract

A mobile irrigation system configured to receive water application amount and application pattern information from a user, automatically determine an irrigation plan using the amount information and the pattern information, and irrigate according to the irrigation plan. The mobile irrigation system is operated by applying water at progressively decreasing levels as the mobile irrigation system moves from a first position to a second position, and applying water at the same or similar progressively decreasing levels as the irrigation system is moved in a reverse direction from the second position back to the first position.

1 . A mobile irrigation system comprising:
 a conduit for carrying and dispensing water; and   at least one mobile tower for supporting and moving the conduit, the mobile irrigation system being configured to irrigate according to an irrigation plan in which an irrigation path is divided beginning at a first position and ending at a second position into a plurality of adjacent, equally sized zones, the zones including a proximal zone near the first position, a distal zone opposite the proximal zone near the second position, and one or more intermediate zones between the proximal zone and the distal zone such that the mobile irrigation system:
 applies water at a first application level at the proximal zone; 
 applies water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position along the irrigation path; 
 applies water at the first application level at the distal zone after the irrigation system reverses direction at the second position; and 
 applies water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position so as to reduce irrigation effects on the path near the first and second positions before the irrigation system reverses directions at the first and second positions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the application level at each zone according to a stepped pattern as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position and as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position, a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the first position to the second position being identical to a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the second position to the first position, such that a uniform total amount of water is applied by the irrigation system at each zone. 
     
     
         3 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the application amount information includes a starting depth and an ending depth, the starting depth corresponding to the first application level and the ending depth corresponding to the second application level. 
     
     
         4 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a smooth pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a stepped pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a linear pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is configured to move along a straight path between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is configured to move along a curved path between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first application level is at least 80% of a maximum application rate of the irrigation system and the second application level is at most 30% of the maximum application rate. 
     
     
         10 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system does not apply any water at the distal zone before reversing directions. 
     
     
         11 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is configured to move from the second position to the first position immediately after moving from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein a water application pattern associated with the movement of the mobile irrigation system from the first position to the second position is identical to a water application pattern associated with the movement of the mobile irrigation system from the second position to the first position such that a uniform total amount of water is applied by the mobile irrigation system between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         13 . An irrigation system comprising:
 a conduit for carrying and dispensing water;   at least one mobile tower for supporting and moving the conduit;   a memory; and   a computer for controlling operation of the irrigation system, the computer programmed to
 receive water application amount information from the user, 
 receive water application pattern information from the user, 
 receive zone information from the user, 
 store the water application amount information, water application pattern information, and zone information on the memory, 
 automatically determine an irrigation plan using the amount information and the pattern information, and 
 operate the mobile irrigation system according to the irrigation plan by
 dividing an irrigation path, beginning at a first position and ending at a second position, into a plurality of adjacent, equally sized zones according to the zone information received from the user, the zones including a proximal zone near the first position, a distal zone opposite the proximal zone near the second position, and one or more intermediate zones between the proximal zone and the distal zone, 
 moving the mobile irrigation system from the first position to the second position along the irrigation path, 
 as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position, applying water from the irrigation system at a first application level at the proximal zone and applying water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone, the amount of water being applied at the distal zone being at least sixty percent less than the amount of water being applied at the proximal zone, 
 moving the mobile irrigation system from the second position to the first position along the path, and 
 as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position, applying water from the irrigation system at the first application level at the distal zone and applying water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone, the amount of water being applied at the proximal zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position being at least sixty percent less than the amount of water being applied at the distal zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position so as to reduce irrigation effects on the path near the first and second positions before the irrigation system reverses directions at the first and second positions. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 13 , the computer being further programmed to decrease the application level at each zone according to a stepped pattern as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position and as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position, a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the first position to the second position being identical to a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the second position to the first position, such that a uniform total amount of water is applied by the irrigation system at each zone. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 13 , the computer being further programmed to decrease the application level at each zone according to a stepped pattern as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position and as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position, a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the first position to the second position being identical to a water application pattern associated with the movement of the irrigation system from the second position to the first position, such that a uniform total amount of water is applied by the irrigation system at each zone. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the application amount information includes a starting depth and an ending depth, the starting depth corresponding to the first application level and the ending depth corresponding to the second application level. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a smooth pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a stepped pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile irrigation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile irrigation system is further configured to decrease the amount of water applied to each zone according to a linear pattern. 
     
     
         20 . A mobile irrigation system comprising:
 a conduit for carrying and dispensing water;   at least one mobile tower for supporting and moving the conduit;   a memory; and   a controller for receiving water application amount information, water application pattern information, and zone information from a remote computer over a wireless telecommunications channel, the controller programmed to
 store the water application amount information, water application pattern information, and zone information on the memory, and 
 automatically determine an irrigation plan using the amount information and the water application pattern information; 
   the mobile irrigation system being configured to irrigate according to the irrigation plan in which an irrigation path is divided beginning at a first position and ending at a second position into a plurality of adjacent, equally sized zones according to the zone information, the zones including a proximal zone near the first position, a distal zone opposite the proximal zone near the second position, and one or more intermediate zones between the proximal zone and the distal zone such that the mobile irrigation system:
 applies water at a first application level at the proximal zone; 
 applies water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone as the irrigation system moves from the first position to the second position along the irrigation path, the amount of water being applied at the distal zone being at least sixty percent less than the amount of water being applied at the proximal zone; 
 applies water from the irrigation system at the first application level at the distal zone after the irrigation system reverses direction at the second position; and 
 applies water to each zone at an amount less than an amount applied to a previously watered zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position, the amount of water being applied at the proximal zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position being at least sixty percent less than the amount of water being applied at the distal zone as the irrigation system moves from the second position to the first position so as to reduce irrigation effects on the path near the first and second positions before the irrigation system reverses directions at the first and second positions.