Software for the automatic control of irrigation using weighing-drainage lysimeters

The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate a software system to optimize irrigation using weighing lysimeters in a potted crop. The software was programmed in a compact embedded controller using the LabVIEW graphical programming language with the Real-Time module. This controller receives data from the lysimeters throughout a Modbus/RS-485 communication network, processes them and realizes the calculations to control the irrigation valves in real time. The system was tested in an experimental plot owned by the “Escuela Politécnica Superior de Orihuela” with Vitis Vinifera L. cv Bobal. The software allowed the acquisition and data logging as well as irrigation scheduling based on water balance obtained from weighing lysimeters i.e. based exclusively on actual crop water needs.