Why Acclima Irrigation Works

Why the RS500 Works

Advantages - Water Savings

  • All Weather, Soil and Plant Characteristics are taken into Accurate Account in the Measurements
  • System Monitors ET in the Root Zone and Applies Just the Right Amount of Water to Hold Moisture in the Target Range
  • Upwards of 30% Water Savings can be Expected over a Well-Managed Clock-Based System

Advantages - Maintenance Savings

  • Seasonal Clock Adjustments are Eliminated
  • System Automatically Accommodates Heavy Rains, Cool Periods, Hot Periods, Dry Winds without Need of Adjustment
  • Initial Settings Remain Stable Year after Year

Advantages - Healthier Lawns

  • Over-Watering Drives Oxygen out of the Soil and Putrefies Roots
  • Over-Watering Leaches Nutrients and Pesticides from the Soil
  • Over-Watering Develops Fungi in the Soil
  • Over-Watering Weakens Drought Tolerance and Reinforces Over-Watering
  • Under-Watering Stresses Lawns and Promotes Weed Growth

Advantages - Environmental Issues

  • Ground Water Contamination with Pesticides and Fertilizers is the Result of Over-Watering Crops and Turf
  • Enormous Reductions in Fertilizer and Pesticide Applications are Possible with Precision Irrigation. Eastern Oregon Onion Fields show 50% Reduction

Historical Problems with Closed-Loop Irrigation Control

  • Sensor Instability - Relative Sensors
  • Sensor Reliability and Longevity
  • True Zone Representation
  • Proper Use of Sensor Readings

Instability - The #1 Problem

Unstable (relative) sensors cannot maintain their accuracy with changes in temperature, conductivity, and compaction. These factors alter their performance substantially making them unreliable.

How it's Done

Acclima's absolute sensor provides stable readings.
  • Transmit Ultra Wide Band step function along transmission line
  • Digitize the received waveform at high resolution
  • Use proprietary DSP algorithm to extract propagation time
  • Analyze waveform distortion to derive Soil EC
  • Monitor soil temperature and compensate resultant readings
  • Report Measured Parameters on Demand
  • Soil Temperature
  • Soil Electrical Conductivity
  • Soil Absolute Water Content

Sensor Reliability

Acclima's Digital TDT Moisture Sensor produces stable, accurate soil moisture measurements. The sensor is able to survive indefinitely in the harsh underground environment due it is robust design and construction.

  • Type 316 Stainless Steel
  • No corrosion after 50+years
  • Exposure to Sea Water
  • Epoxy
  • Hard
  • Durable
  • Impervious to Water