Plant oriented control system based upon vapor pressure deficit data

Claim 1

A method for automatically applying water to a crop bed in a greenhouse comprising the steps for: (a) continuously at spaced intervals gathering temperature data directly above the bed for estimating the vapor pressure of crop leaf water; (b) continuously at spaced intervals gathering data for estimating the vapor pressure of the atmosphere directly above the bed; (c) continuously calculating vapor pressure deficit from the data gathered in steps (a) and (b) and accumulating said data; (d) establishing a factor indicative of leaf area; (e) establishing a vapor pressure deficit accumulation threshold for initiating supply of water based upon the factor established in step (d); and (f) when the accumulation determined in step (c) reaches the threshold, supplying water to said crop bed.

Claim 2

A method for automatically applying water to a crop bed in a greenhouse comprising the steps for: (a) continuously at spaced intervals gathering temperature data directly above the bed for estimating the vapor pressure of crop leaf water; (b) continuously at spaced intervals gathering data for estimating the vapor pressure of the atmosphere directly above the bed; (c) continuously calculating vapor pressure deficit from the data gathered in steps (a) and (b) and accumulating said data; (d) establishing a factor indicative of leaf area; (e) establishing a vapor pressure deficit accumulation threshold for initiating supply of water based upon the factor established in step (d); and (f) when the accumulation determined in step (c) reaches the threshold, supplying water to said crop bed.

Claim 5

The method according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the aspirated dry bulb temperature is used for calculating the estimated vapor pressure of crop leaf water.

Claim 8

The method according to claims 1, 2 or 5 wherein the water supplied to the crop bed in step (f) is supplied in an amount that provides a small amount of runoff.

Claim 9

A method according to claims 1, 2 or 5 further comprising measuring a time parameter indicative of physiological crop age for automatically adjusting the factor indicative of leaf area.

Claim 16

A system for controlling environmental conditions including irrigation in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising: (a) a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising means for generating electrical signals indicative of dry bulb temperature and humidity of the atmosphere and means for generating signals indicative of the temperature of a surface over the bed; (b) a computer comprising: (i) a central processing unit with associated scratch memory, program memory sections and a real time clock; (ii) an input section for receiving the electrical signals from the sensors; (iii) an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and (iv) means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section; (c) said program memory programmed with: (i) a task for reading the real time clock; (ii) a task for inputting data from the input section and for calculating the vapor pressure deficit at each bed; (iii) a task for establishing times for supply of water based upon the data gathered in (i), and (ii); and (iv) a task for at the established times initiating electromechanical action for supplying water to the crop bed.

Claim 17

A system for controlling environmental conditions including irrigation in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising: (a) a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising means for generating electrical signals indicative of dry bulb temperature and humidity of the atmosphere and means for generating signals indicative of the temperature of a surface over the bed; (b) a computer comprising: (i) a central processing unit with associated scratch memory, program memory sections and a real time clock; (ii) an input section for receiving the electrical signals from the sensors; (iii) an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electromechanical apparatus; and (iv) means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section; (c) said program memory programmed with: (i) a task for reading the real time clock; (ii) a task for inputting data from the input section and for calculating the vapor pressure deficit at each bed; (iii) a task for establishing times for supply of water based upon the data gathered in (i), and (ii); and (iv) a task for at the established times initiating electromechanical action for supplying water to the crop bed.

Claim 18

A system for controlling environmental conditions including irrigation in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising: (a) a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating electrical signals indicative of dry bulb temperature and humidity of the atmosphere and means for generating electrical signals indicative of the temperature of a surface over the bed and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the bed; (b) a computer comprising: (i) a central processing unit with associated scratch memory, program memory sections and a real time clock; (ii) an input section for receiving the electrical signals from the sensors; (iii) an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electro-mechanical apparatus; and (iv) means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section; (c) said program memory programmed with: (i) a task for reading the real time clock; (ii) a task for inputting data from the input section for calculating the vapor pressure deficit at each bed; (iii) a task for inputting data from the input section indicative of light intensity and measuring a time parameter indication of physiological crop age; (iv) a task for establishing times for supply of water based upon the data gathered in (i), (ii) and (iii); and (v) a task for at the established times initiating electromechanical action for supplying water to the crop bed.

Claim 19

A system for controlling environmental conditions including irrigation in greenhouses having a plurality of crop beds within one greenhouse enclosure arranged into a plurality of sense zones and a plurality of control zones comprising: (a) a plurality of sensors stationed over crop beds within each sense zone comprising an aspirated enclosure and means therein for generating electrical signals indicative of dry bulb temperature and humidity of the atmosphere and means for generating electrical signals indicative of the temperature of a surface over the bed and also means for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of incident light over the bed; (b) a computer comprising: (i) a central processing unit with associated scratch memory, program memory sections and a real time clock; (ii) an input section for receiving the electrical signals from the sensors; (iii) an output section for converting the computer logic signals to electrical signals at power levels to operate electro-mechanical apparatus; and (iv) means for connecting the central processing unit, input section and output section; (c) said program memory programmed with: (i) a task for reading the real time clock; (ii) a task for inputting data from the input section for calculating the vapor pressure deficit at each bed; (iii) a task for inputting data from the input section indicative of light intensity and measuring a time parameter indication of physiological crop age; (iv) a task for establishing times for supply of water based upon the data gathered in (i), (ii) and (iii); and (v) a task for at the established times initiating electromechanical action for supplying water to the crop bed.