An irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal and command and message data to an encoder. The encoder encodes the command and message data onto the power signal to provide a data encoded power waveform that is sent over a two-wire path. The irrigation system further comprises one or more decoders in communication with the two-wire path to receive the data encoded power waveform and one or more irrigation valves in communication with the one or more decoders. The data encoded power waveform provides power to the decoders and the decoders decode the command and message data from the data encoded power waveform to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.

A control system for a low-volume irrigation system includes a plurality of valve controllers for opening and closing valves; an irrigation system controller for controlling the valve controllers in accordance with an irrigation plan; and a graphical user interface for allowing a user to interact with the irrigation controller and to create the irrigation plan. The graphical user interface displays an irrigation zone list, an irrigation set list, and an irrigation plan field. The user interface has drag and drop functionality that permits an irrigation zone listing from the irrigation zone list to be dragged and dropped into any of the irrigation set listings in the irrigation set list and that permits an irrigation zone listing or an irrigation set listing to be dragged and dropped into the irrigation plan to create irrigation steps within the irrigation plan.

The present invention provides a system for providing power, control and communications within an irrigation system having at least one span and a drive system for moving the span. According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention preferably includes a pivot panel which includes a pivot panel processor for receiving, controlling and initiating the transmission of power and control signals to a plurality of solid state tower boxes. According to a further preferred embodiment, a system in accordance with the present invention preferably further includes a power-line BUS electrically connected to the pivot panel processor and to a power-line carrier. According to a further preferred embodiment, the power-line carrier of the present invention preferably provides power and electrical control signals to a number of solid state tower boxes. According to a further preferred embodiment, the solid-state tower boxes preferably control power to motor elements within each tower box.

An irrigation sprinkler may comprise a sprinkler, a connecting base, an operating member, a driving lever, and a locating unit. A protruding portion protruding from a central portion of a top surface of the operating member has an arc-shaped top end to form two abutting surfaces at two sides of the arc. Moreover, one of the two abutting surfaces is configured to be abutted by the driving lever when the irrigation sprinkler changes the rotating direction. The driving lever has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, and a bottom end of the third portion has an upward recess formed at a central portion thereof. The recess of the third portion of the driving lever is configured to cover the protruding portion completely, which improves the driving actions between the driving lever and the operating member.

A system and method are provided for managing some or all of an agricultural ecosystem. In one example, the method includes obtaining a current soil moisture level for multiple zones at a geographic location, where each of the zones has been assigned a desired minimum soil moisture level. The zones are ranked in a watering schedule based on a delta between the current soil moisture level and the desired minimum soil moisture level of each zone. For each zone, in the order based on the zone's ranking, at least one valve is opened to deliver water to the zone and closed after watering of the zone is completed. The water may be delivered based on time or volume. If by volume, the volume needed by the zone is calculated.

An irrigation system comprises an irrigation controller that receives user input and provides a power signal and command and message data to an encoder. The encoder encodes the command and message data onto the power signal to provide a data encoded power waveform that is sent over a two-wire path. The irrigation system further comprises one or more decoders in communication with the two-wire path to receive the data encoded power waveform and one or more irrigation valves in communication with the one or more decoders. The data encoded power waveform provides power to the decoders and the decoders decode the command and message data from the data encoded power waveform to control the irrigation valves according to the user input.

There is provided an irrigation system with a plurality of solenoid valves. The solenoid valves each include a wireless transceiver that communicates with one another to form a mesh network. The solenoids can include sensors that gather data to be communicated over the wireless mesh network to a controller. The solenoids can also include a signal generator to activate passive sensors remote from the solenoid to collect data and transmit the data to the solenoid for communication over the wireless mesh network to a controller. The data can be related to environmental conditions or security about the irrigation system.

A control system for a low-volume irrigation system includes a plurality of valve controllers for opening and closing valves; an irrigation system controller for controlling the valve controllers in accordance with an irrigation plan; and a graphical user interface for allowing a user to interact with the irrigation controller and to create the irrigation plan. The graphical user interface displays an irrigation zone list, an irrigation set list, and an irrigation plan field. The user interface has drag and drop functionality that permits an irrigation zone listing from the irrigation zone list to be dragged and dropped into any of the irrigation set listings in the irrigation set list and that permits an irrigation zone listing or an irrigation set listing to be dragged and dropped into the irrigation plan to create irrigation steps within the irrigation plan.

Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers, comprising: a transformer configured to step down a voltage producing an AC power signal; a live AC line and an AC common line coupled with the transformer; a plurality of AC switches coupled with the live AC line and configured to selectively pass the AC power signal to one or more valve solenoids such that the one or more valve solenoids are effectively coupled across the live AC line and the AC common line; an impedance element coupled serially on the AC common line with the transformer, wherein the impedance element comprises an inductive reactance and a resistive component, and the impedance element is configured to increase overvoltage protection between the transformer and the plurality of AC switches increasing an effective voltage tolerance to the overvoltage conditions at the AC switches; and a controller configured to selectively control the plurality of AC switches.

An integrated eliminating device and its method for initial runoff pollution is provided, wherein a plurality of the water receiving pipes for collecting initial runoff are gathered and connected to the first water reservoir, one end of the water inlet pump is connected with the first water reservoir via the water receiving pipes, and the other end of the intake pump is connected with an water inlet opening of the rice field; the rice field is divided into a plurality of sub-parcels in a shape of long stripes, a regulating gate is set. An outlet of the rice field is communicated with the second water reservoir and which is communicated with the water inlet opening of the rice field via the reflux pump.