Baseline Systems BaseStation 3200 - Manual (Page 16)

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
infrequently and promotes deeper root growth in plants. The controller will water for a specified
run time each time it is allowed to water. When you are using this watering strategy, remember
to ensure that ½ inch or more of water is applied frequently enough to water sufficiently during
the hottest period of the season. Refer to Understanding Upper and Lower Limit Watering
Strategies on page 53.
Lower Limit
Automatic
Lower Limit Automatic waters according to a lower limit strategy, but automatically performs a
calibration cycle each month in order to measure actual soil field capacity. This strategy is
particularly useful for newly established landscapes where compaction and organic development
of soil can cause field capacity to vary significantly over time. Refer to Understanding Upper and
Lower Limit Watering Strategies on page 53.
Upper
Limit
Also called Upper Threshold. In this soil moisture based, smart watering strategy, irrigation
events are scheduled for specific times and dates, but the total run time is adjusted by the
controller to bring soil moisture up and very slightly over field capacity. This watering strategy is
particularly useful for landscapes that need to be at a desired moisture level on a regular
schedule, such as sports fields or heavy use parks. On these types of properties, damage to turf
takes place when the soil is either too wet or too dry. Refer to Understanding Upper and Lower
Limit Watering Strategies on page 53.
Upper
Limit
Automatic
Upper Limit Automatic waters according to an upper limit strategy, but automatically performs a
calibration cycle each month in order to measure actual soil field capacity. This strategy is
particularly useful for newly established landscapes where compaction and organic development
of soil can cause field capacity to vary significantly over time. Refer to Understanding Upper and
Lower Limit Watering Strategies on page 53.
One important thing to remember about watering strategies – any one zone (or valve) can only be watered
according to one strategy. In other words, you cannot configure a zone to be watered automatically using a soil
moisture sensor and also be watered on a separate timed schedule.
Zones can be linked together and watered as a group, regardless of the watering strategy selected. Refer to Linking
Zones (Creating a Scheduling Group) on page 45 for more information.
Also note that, even with soil moisture based watering strategies, it is important to program the controller so it will
put down as much water as required to maintain plant health during the heat of the summer. The 3200 has built-in
limits that control how much it is allowed to modify run times or watering days before it assumes that there is an
equipment malfunction of some kind.
One of the most common irrigation programming mistakes is to apply too little water during the hottest days of
the season. Baseline recommends that, regardless of watering strategy, you program each zone to water long
enough to put down at least ½ inch of water each time the controller is allowed to water.
Root Depth and Plant Water Efficiency
Studies show that most plants, in particular standard turf grasses, do not grow deeper roots unless prompted to do
so. While some turf grass varietals rapidly grow deeper root structures when properly watered, even Kentucky
bluegrass will grow roots in excess of 12 inches in appropriate soil textures when it is watered optimally.
Watering deeply and infrequently on a consistent basis will promote healthier plants with deeper root structures.
As roots grow deeper, the plants are then able to access water in deeper and typically wetter soil layers, making
them even more water efficient. Plants with deeper roots are also able to draw nutrients and fertilizers from
deeper soil layers, making the plants more nutrition efficient as well.
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