Method of controlling the irrigation of a field with a center pivot irrigation system

摘要

A method of optimizing water applications of a center pivot irrigation system. The field is mapped to determine the yield potentials of various parts of the field. The field map is divided into sectors or zones and the yield potentials of those sectors or zones are determined. The number of sectors or zones to be irrigated is dependent upon the water flow available to the irrigation system. Only those sectors or zones which can receive adequate irrigating water to achieve the predetermined water application depth will be irrigated.

主权项

1. The method of irrigating a field during times of drought and during times of reduced water availability with an elongated center pivot irrigation system, having spaced-apart sprinklers thereon, comprising the steps of:
determining the number of acres of a field over which the center pivot irrigation system travels; preparing a map which divides a field into irrigation sectors; determining the number of acres in each of the irrigation sectors; determining a yield potential of a field in each of the irrigation sectors; determining a crop water requirement; determining a water flow rate, in gallons per minute, available to the center pivot irrigation system; determining a number of gallons per minute per acre to achieve the crop water requirement; calculating the number of acres available to receive sufficient water to achieve the crop water requirement by dividing the water flow rate available to a center pivot irrigation system by the number of gallons per minute per acre to achieve the crop water requirement; dividing the number of acres available to receive sufficient water to achieve the crop water requirement by the number of acres of the field to determine a percentage thereof; multiplying the percentage and a total number of irrigation sectors to identify the number of irrigation sectors available for the crop water requirement; identifying the top yielding sectors in the field corresponding to the number of irrigation sectors available for the crop water requirement; moving the center pivot irrigation system over the field; and operating the sprinklers on the center pivot irrigation system as the center pivot irrigation system moves over the top yielding sectors to irrigate those top yielding sectors.