Baseline Systems BaseStation 3200 - Manual (Page 13)

I n t r o d u c t i o n
Page 11
Baseline 3200
one Schedule Group, and are controlled by a single soil moisture sensor in one of the
infields.
Likewise, all zones covering the outfields are grouped into a second Schedule Group
controlled by a single moisture sensor in one of the outfields.
Since all the soccer fields have similar plant types and sun exposures, all zones for all
the soccer fields are grouped together and controlled from a single soil moisture
sensor located in one of the fields.
Lastly, the parking lot and perimeter shrub beds are broken into two schedule groups
representing sunny and shady exposures, and are placed into two Schedule Groups.
In this way, 42 individual zones are configured into 5 Schedule Groups controlled by 5
moisture sensors.
In the example above, all 5 Schedule Groups are each watered using a soil moisture sensor, and
would be configured to an Upper or Lower Limit watering strategy as outlined earlier. However,
this is not required – each Schedule Group can be watered according to any watering strategy
appropriate to that section of the landscape.
One additional benefit of grouping Zones into Schedule Groups is for ease of adjustments. By
adjusting the programming of the Primary Zone, the programming of all Linked Zones will
automatically be adjusted.
Soak Cycling
When irrigating, it is important to understand the difference between the rate at which the
irrigation application devices, such as spray heads, impact heads, rotor heads, multi-stream
rotors, drip emitters, subsurface drip tubing, etc., apply water may be very different than the
rate at which the soil in your landscape can take up that water.
Precipitation Rates vs. Infiltration Rates
Precipitation Rates, or the rate at which sprinkler heads or drip emitters apply water to the soil,
are typically measured in inches, like rainfall.
Many soils only allow water infiltration at a rate of .25” per hour or less, whereas most head
types put down .50” per hour or more (much more in the case of some spray heads).
It is also important to remember that head spacing and overlap directly influence the total
precipitation rate for any specific zone.
Precipitation Rates for Common Sprinkler Types:
Spray Heads 1.00” to greater than 5.00” per hour
Gear Driven Rotors 0.25” to 0.65” per hour
Multi-stream Rotors 0.40” to 0.60” per hour
Drip Emitters Depends on area covered, rarely exceeds infiltration rate
Estimated Infiltration Rates for Common Soil Types:
Course Sand: 0.75” to 1.00” per hour
Fine Sand: 0.50” to 0.75” per hour
Find Sandy Loam: 0.35” to 0.50” per hour
Silt Loam: 0.15” to 0.40” per hour
Clay Loam: 0.10” to 0.20” per hour