Baseline Systems BaseStation 3200 - Manual (Page 10)

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
• Avoid runoff. Matching the application rate of irrigation to the infiltration rate of the soil is critical to avoid
runoff.
• Only apply the amount of water needed. Irrigation water is a supplement to natural rainfall – you only need
to apply the amount of water needed to return the soil to optimum moisture.
Irrigation water applied above the field capacity of the soil is wasted – water will gravitationally sink through
the soil below the root zone of the plants.
Unlike other irrigation controllers, the 3200 is specifically designed to make efficient irrigation easy. Before you
start setting up and programming your BaseStation 3200, it is helpful to understand the following concepts:
• Soil Moisture Content
• How to Use Soil Moisture Sensors, including:
 Hydrozones, scheduling groups, and primary zones
• Watering Strategies
• Root Depth and Plant Water Efficiency
• Soak Cycling
• Distribution Uniformity
The remainder of this section covers these key concepts in more detail.
Soil Moisture Content
Soil scientists and agronomists have been studying the plant-water-soil system for over 100 years. Early work in
irrigation efficiency focused on the estimation of soil moisture based on weather information, plant water
requirements, and soil information such as soil texture and slope. With the availability of inexpensive and highly
accurate soil moisture sensors, we are able to take soil moisture based irrigation to a whole new level of efficiency
and effectiveness.
With soil moisture sensors, your controller can operate like a thermostat for your landscape – applying water
when it is needed, and where it is needed.
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