TECHNOLOGY Put runoff on hold.
“Tere are a lot of different manufacturers that make great sensors that are wireless and can log data over time, which is very useful,” Santos says. “If there is a permanent location for a sensor to be placed and integrated into a controller to help automate the watering pro- cess, a sensor should be used over a meter.” If an area of soil is better suited for a por- table solution, meters might be the way to go. “If temporary moisture monitoring is be- ing used to track trends over a short period of time over many different locations, then a moisture meter would be a more suitable op- tion,” Santos says. However, Santos advises against using a meter if a user wants to monitor moisture in the exact same location over an extended pe- riod of time.
Using a soil moisture
reader provides data, but it’s up to the
irrigation professional’s understanding to make that data useful.
“Tere are much more efficient ways to do this using a sensor that can log moisture read- ings continuously over an extended period of time and produce a graph showing changes over time,” Santos says. Sensors can also be used when landscaping
green buildings, Vinchesi says. Using a soil moisture system helps meet LEED credits, Green Building Initiative credits or Sustain- able Site credits. “Te irrigation system will pretty much
manage itself, and you’re going to save water,” Vinchesi says. “If you’re in a place that has very expensive water, that’s going to certainly help.” Jammer says that a large factor when de-
ciding on a meter or sensor is a question of control the user wants to have. Sensors can offer an on-and-off switch for an irrigation system, while meters allow for greater juris- diction over water amounts and times. “Not every occasion is the right use for
sensors,” Jammer says. “It just depends on how much control you really want to have on the system when it comes down to it.”
McKenna Corson is the digital content editor for Irriga- tion & Lighting and can be reached at mckennacorson@
irrigation.org.
Spring 2022 Irrigation & Lighting 39
Trusted by thousands of green industry professional contractors, consultants and architects in over 30 countries.
Email:
sales@raincad.com | Phone: (936) 372-9884
PRC4500 Preset Pressure Regulator with Check Valve
The efficient, US-made PRC4500 pressure regulator with built-in check valve ends water erosion and puddles due to unwelcome line drainage. This ½” low flow unit comes in pressure ratings of 20, 30 or 40 psi and flow rates from 0.5 to 6.0 gpm. • Stops unwanted runoff • Prevents sprinkler erosion when irrigating seedbeds • Ends line drainage when watering on hills • Prevents mainline from draining during fertigation
Designed for agriculture, greenhouse, nursery and landscape uses, the PRC4500 delivers outstanding performance and durability. For more information, contact an irrigation specialist or visit
www.hendricksonbros.com.
Making Every Precious Drop Count. Since 1976. (951) 737-6822 •
www.hendricksonbros.com
Easy-to-use landscape and irrigation design software.
Visit us online today at
www.RainCAD.com for details!
D
E
E
S
K
I
I
G
ONLY
$1.00 A DAY!
N
L
A
P
R
O
D
A
E
S
E
I
K
G
I
N
L
P
R
O
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
