Agriculture

Biodegradable Moisture Sensors for Real-Time Control of Automated Irrigation Systems

Related Patents:  7,367,880 ; 6591145

Contact: David R. Anderson

Phone: (208) 526-0837

E-mail:  Send E-mail

This invention is an inexpensive and biodegradable soil moisture probe that can be read by an electromagnetic ‘reader’ that is attached to a center pivot or linear move irrigation system. The reader(s) pass over the probes as the irrigation system traverses the field and provides moisture information to an irrigation control system. The irrigation system can thus be configured to spatially apply water in the amounts and where it is needed. The probes are inexpensive and biodegradable, eliminating the need to recover them prior to harvest.