IRRIGATION INDICATOR Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: agriculture. SUBSTANCE: irrigation indicator is adapted to determine potential values of soil moisture at which concrete crop plants require watering. Indicator has transparent casing 1 filled with water and connected with its lower part to porous probe 2. Plug 3 is disposed in upper part of casing 1. Float 7 of extreme moisture potential value measuring device is disposed in inner cavity of casing 1 and adapted for concrete crop plants. Irrigation indicator is deepened into soil (bed) for depth of major part of root of given crop and left there until equilibrium state between soil moisture and water in indicator is set. Floating of float 7 to sector of scale 4, having color coinciding with that of concrete crop, indicates need for irrigation. Irrigation is conducted up to the moment float 7 is immersed beyond scale 4. EFFECT: increased efficiency, reduced consumption of water and adequate conditions for plant growing. 2 cl, 2 dwg