A method of automatically managing a center pivot irrigation machine comprising steps of: (a) providing at least one center pivot irrigation machine and positioning said center pivot irrigation machine such that said center pivot irrigation machine is movable within an irrigated plot around a center thereof; (b) providing a ground penetration radar; (c) mounting said ground penetration radar on said center pivot irrigation machine; (d) moving said center pivot irrigation machine about said center of said irrigated plot; (e) scanning said irrigated by said ground penetration radar at frequencies ranging between 200-1200 MHz; (f) calculating a distribution of soil moisture over a depth from a soil surface; and (g) creating an irrigation plan according to said distribution.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for fluid flow control. A container is shaped to receive a liquid. An inlet is configured to allow the liquid to enter the container. An outlet is configured to allow the liquid to exit the container. A float is disposed within the container. A valve is actuated based on a position of the float within the container to open the valve at a first liquid level within the container and to close the valve at a different liquid level within the container.

An agricultural method includes providing a positive air pressure chamber to prevent outside contaminants from entering the chamber; growing crops in a plurality of cells in the chamber, each cell having multi-grow benches or levels, each cell further having connectors to vertical hoists for vertical movements in the chamber; maintaining pre-set temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, watering and lighting levels to achieve predetermined plant growth; using motorized transport rails to deliver benches for operations including seeding, harvesting, grow media recovery, and bench wash; dispensing seeds in the cell with a mechanical seeder coupled to the transport rails; growing the crops with computer controlled nutrients, light and air level; and harvesting the crops and delivering the harvested crop at a selected outlet of the chamber.

An irrigation valve assembly is provided, such as for use in a hose end timer or other irrigation device. In one form, the irrigation valve assembly includes an inlet, an outlet, and a molded valve body coupled to the inlet and the outlet and defining a flow passage from the inlet to the outlet. The inlet couples the irrigation valve assembly to a water source. The outlet includes a metal outlet body including a threaded portion, such as for coupling to a house. The metal outlet body includes at least one projection embedded at least partially into the molded valve body for coupling the metal outlet body to the molded valve body. An irrigation device and an outlet for an irrigation device are also provided.

In one embodiment, a method for optimizing downstream processes for a plurality of flow controllers includes determining a water budget for the plurality of flow controllers based on utility information and a water amount used by the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers; determining, by a processing element, a run time water amount used by the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers during a watering run time of the flow devices; modifying, by the processing element, watering schedules for the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers when the water amount used deviates from the water budget; and transmitting, by the processing element, the modified watering schedules to the plurality of flow controllers to vary the operation of the flow devices controlled by the plurality of flow controllers.

An irrigation solenoid valve switch assembly is operable on a mesh network. The assembly uses a mesh network to transmit valve command signals that control the timing and amount of water discharged through a solenoid valve in multiple agricultural zones. A solenoid valve regulates the flow of water. A clock, or agricultural controller, generates valve command signals that control the timing and amount of water discharged through the solenoid valve. A hub controller operatively connects to the clock. The hub controller transmits the valve command signals over the mesh network. A switch operatively connects to the solenoid valve. The switch receives the valve command signals to control the solenoid valve, in correspondence to the valve command signals. The switch has a rechargeable battery that feeds direct current to the switch for operation of the solenoid valve. Multiple relay signal repeaters carry the valve command signals across the mesh network.

A system with sensor equipment including one or more sensors and watering equipment disposed on a parcel of land and configured to selectively apply water to the parcel, and a gateway configured to provide for communication with the sensor equipment and the watering equipment. The watering equipment comprises a watering pump, wherein the watering pump is operably coupled to a water source and a water line to alternately couple the water source to and isolate the water source from the water line. The watering pump further includes a pump sensor assembly configured to direct the watering pump based on detected environmental and operational parameters.

According to one embodiment, a method for generating a dynamic watering plan that reduces water consumption requirements for vegetation is disclosed. An example method includes estimating root depth of vegetation watered by a watering system; determining an allowed water depletion threshold of the vegetation based on the root depth; determining a training watering plan to increase the root depth of the vegetation over time based on the root depth and the allowed water depletion threshold; and transmitting the training watering plan to a flow controller for execution by the watering system.

A watertight electrical compartment for use in an irrigation device can include a compartment body having a chamber and a sealing section configured to mate with one or more sealing rings. A sealing cap can mate with the sealing section and/or the sealing rings to seal the chamber. A cap retainer can be advanced over at least a portion of the sealing cap. One of the compartment body and cap retainer can have internal threads to be screwed onto external threads of the other one of the compartment body and cap retainer. The cap retainer can also have a stopping feature to keep the sealing cap in its sealed position. The watertight electrical compartment can be used in a wireless flow sensor assembly, a battery operated irrigation controller, and/or a battery-operated central controller device, to provide irrigation control, and/or sensor information, without the need for AC power.

An agricultural method includes providing a positive air pressure chamber to prevent outside contaminants from entering the chamber; growing crops in a plurality of cells in the chamber, each cell having multi-grow benches or levels, each cell further having connectors to vertical hoists for vertical movements in the chamber; maintaining pre-set temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, watering and lighting levels to achieve predetermined plant growth; using motorized transport rails to deliver benches for operations including seeding, harvesting, grow media recovery, and bench wash; dispensing seeds in the cell with a mechanical seeder coupled to the transport rails; growing the crops with computer controlled nutrients, light and air level; and harvesting the crops and delivering the harvested crop at a selected outlet of the chamber.