Valmont Industries, Inc.
System and method for integrated use of field sensors for dynamic management of irrigation and crop inputs

Abstract:

The present invention provides a system for combining the use of near real-time and/or real-time data acquired from an array of single purpose or integrated sensors mounted on a mechanized irrigation machine. According to a preferred embodiment, the integrated sensor of the present invention preferably provides for the collection of a variety data. According to a further preferred embodiment, the integrated sensor suite of the present invention may preferably include internally mounted sensors within a common housing which preferably includes a spectrometer, a radiometer and sensors to measure temperature, rainfall, relative humidity and barometric pressure. According to a further preferred embodiment, the number of integrated sensors mounted on a mechanized irrigation machine may preferably be determined based on a detected number of management zones and/or a detected location.