Indian Patents. 257534:"AN IMPROVED FIELD TENSIOMETER FOR IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT OF CROPS"

Title of Invention	"AN IMPROVED FIELD TENSIOMETER FOR IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT OF CROPS"
Abstract	An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops comprises a tube (1) housing another tube (2) wherein the inner tube (2) is fitted to a cup (3) at its lower end and the outer tube (1) is fitted to a cork (4) at its upper end in which both the tubes and cup are filled with a liquid and the outer tube is provided with a plurality of indication marks.

Full Text	FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops. The instrument indicates the most appropriate time of irrigation to the crops taking into consideration the type of soil and the atmospheric demand of water. PRIOR ART The tensiometers available in the market are Electronic tensiometers with pressure transducers, Vacuum gauge tensiometers, Hg-manometer tensiometers. The Electronic tensiometers use pressure transducers which require sophisticated electronic gadgets to measure the suction created in the tensiometer. The pressure transducers are costly (Rs 1 lac a piece) and require recurring expenses on needles, batteries etc from time to time. Hence, these are unaffordable besides being sophisticated to be used on daily basis in the farmers' fields. Further, it requires special skill in handling. The Vacuum gauge tensiometers (Rs 3500 per piece) use vacuum gauges to measure the suction in the tensiometers which generally do not work at lower suction values in the soil and require precision gauges with high cost apart from being non-feasible to use under the field conditions as the gauge gets often blocked due to heat and dust. The Hg-manometer tensiometers use a column of mercury to measure the suction. These can not be used in the field as the mercury is toxic and usually gets spilt in the fields, besides being difficult to handle the same under field conditions. Further, measuring system of the Hg-manometer tensiometers breakdown under field conditions if not primed daily. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which overcomes all the disadvantages associated with the existing tensiometers. Another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is simple and cheaper as compared to known art. Further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which does not involve any recurring expenditures for its upkeep. Still another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which can be used for irrigation of different crops requiring frequent irrigation at different soil matric potential values. Yet another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is very sturdy to be used under field conditions. Yet another further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is farmer-friendly as it does not require any special skill for its application. Still further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is durable. Still another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which can measure soil moisture status at a particular time period in addition to study of soil moisture retention relationships. STATEMENT OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops comprises a tube (1) housing another tube (2) wherein the inner tube (2) is fitted to a cup (3) at its lower end and the outer tube (1) is fitted to a cork (4) at its upper end in which both the tubes and cup are filled with a liquid and the outer tube is provided with a plurality of indication marks. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and wherein: Figure 1: shows: Improved field Tensiometer of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING This invention provides an improved field Tensiormeter as shown in fig, 1, which comprises an acrylic transparent tube (1) housing another tube (2). The inner tube is fitted to a cup (3) at the bottom end. The upper part of the inner and outer tube is fitted with a cork (4). Both the tubes and cup are filled with distilled water and the upper end of the outer tube is marked with different colours so as to guide the farmers to decide about the exact timing for irrigation of a particular crop in different soils. The diameter of the cup is preferably equivalent to that of the outer tube. Before filling the system with water, the cup is saturated overnight in water. The upper portion of the outer tube is marked with different colours, which coincide with the scale reading of soil matric potential, based on the water level inside the inner tube. The irrigation to a Particular crop is recommended as per the colour scheme on the outer tube. The instrument is installed at the desired depth in the soil by making a hole with diameter slightly bigger than that of the cup. The slurry is made of soil and water in a ratio for example (3:1) incorporated into the hole so as to ensure proper contact between the cup and surrounding soil. When placed in the soil, the water column in the inner tube comes in equilibrium with the water of the surrounding soil after certain time interval and the level of water indicates the soil moisture status. The tensiometer is leak-proof apart from being easy and cheap from farmers' point of view. It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:- WE CLAIM; 1. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops comprises a tube (1) housing another tube (2) wherein the inner tube (2) is fitted to a cup (3) at its lower end and the outer tube (1) is fitted to a cork (4) at its upper end in which both the tubes and cup are filled with a liquid and the outer tube is provided with a plurality of indication marks. 2. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is distilled water. 3. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tube (1) & (2) is made of acrylic. 4. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the cup (3) is preferably equivalent to the diameter of the outer tube(l). 5. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer tube(l) is marked with different colours, which coincide with the scale reading of soil matric potential, based on the water level inside the inner tube (2).

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops. The instrument indicates the most appropriate time of irrigation to the crops taking into consideration the type of soil and the atmospheric demand of water.
PRIOR ART
The tensiometers available in the market are Electronic tensiometers with pressure transducers, Vacuum gauge tensiometers, Hg-manometer tensiometers. The Electronic tensiometers use pressure transducers which require sophisticated electronic gadgets to measure the suction created in the tensiometer. The pressure transducers are costly (Rs 1 lac a piece) and require recurring expenses on needles, batteries etc from time to time. Hence, these are unaffordable besides being sophisticated to be used on daily basis in the farmers' fields. Further, it requires special skill in handling.
The Vacuum gauge tensiometers (Rs 3500 per piece) use vacuum gauges to measure the suction in the tensiometers which generally do not work at lower suction values in the soil and require precision gauges with high
cost apart from being non-feasible to use under the field conditions as the gauge gets often blocked due to heat and dust.
The Hg-manometer tensiometers use a column of mercury to measure the suction. These can not be used in the field as the mercury is toxic and usually gets spilt in the fields, besides being difficult to handle the same under field conditions. Further, measuring system of the Hg-manometer tensiometers breakdown under field conditions if not primed daily.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which overcomes all the disadvantages associated with the existing tensiometers.
Another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is simple and cheaper as compared to known art.
Further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which does not involve any recurring expenditures for its upkeep.
Still another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which can be used for irrigation of different crops requiring frequent irrigation at different soil matric potential values.
Yet another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is very sturdy to be used under field conditions.
Yet another further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is farmer-friendly as it does not require any special skill for its application.
Still further object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which is durable.
Still another object of the present invention is to propose an improved field Tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops, which can measure soil moisture status at a particular time period in addition to study of soil moisture retention relationships.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
According to this invention there is provided an improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops comprises a tube (1) housing another tube (2) wherein the inner tube (2) is fitted to a cup (3) at its lower end and the outer tube (1) is fitted to a cork (4) at its upper end in which both the tubes and cup are filled with a liquid and the outer tube is provided with a plurality of indication marks.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing and wherein:
Figure 1: shows: Improved field Tensiometer of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
This invention provides an improved field Tensiormeter as shown in fig, 1, which comprises an acrylic transparent tube (1) housing another tube (2). The inner tube is fitted to a cup (3) at the bottom end. The upper part of the inner and outer tube is fitted with a cork (4). Both the tubes and cup are filled with distilled water and the upper end of the outer tube is marked with different colours so as to guide the farmers to decide about the exact timing for irrigation of a particular crop in different soils. The diameter of the cup is preferably equivalent to that of the outer tube. Before filling the system with water, the cup is saturated overnight in water. The upper portion of the outer tube is marked with different colours, which coincide with the scale reading of soil matric potential, based on the water level inside the inner tube. The irrigation to a
Particular crop is recommended as per the colour scheme on the outer tube. The instrument is installed at the desired depth in the soil by making a hole with diameter slightly bigger than that of the cup. The slurry is made of soil and water in a ratio for example (3:1) incorporated into the hole so as to ensure proper contact between the cup and surrounding soil. When placed in the soil, the water column in the inner tube comes in equilibrium with the water of the surrounding soil after certain time interval and the level of water indicates the soil moisture status.
The tensiometer is leak-proof apart from being easy and cheap from farmers' point of view.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:-

WE CLAIM;
1. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops comprises a tube (1) housing another tube (2) wherein the inner tube (2) is fitted to a cup (3) at its lower end and the outer tube (1) is fitted to a cork (4) at its upper end in which both the tubes and cup are filled with a liquid and the outer tube is provided with a plurality of indication marks.
2. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid is distilled water.
3. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tube (1) & (2) is made of acrylic.
4. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the cup (3) is preferably equivalent to the diameter of the outer tube(l).
5. An improved field tensiometer for irrigation water management of crops as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer tube(l) is marked with different colours, which coincide with the scale reading of soil matric potential, based on the water level inside the inner tube (2).

Documents:

1962-DEL-2006-Abstract-(26-08-2011).pdf

1962-del-2006-abstract.pdf

1962-del-2006-Claims-(10-06-2013).pdf

1962-DEL-2006-Claims-(26-08-2011).pdf

1962-del-2006-claims.pdf

1962-del-2006-Correspondence Others-(22-04-2013).pdf

1962-DEL-2006-Correspondence Others-(26-08-2011).pdf

1962-del-2006-Correspondence-Others-(10-06-2013).pdf

1962-del-2006-correspondence-others-1.pdf

1962-del-2006-correspondence-others.pdf

1962-DEL-2006-Description (Complete)-(26-08-2011).pdf

1962-del-2006-description (complete).pdf

1962-del-2006-drawings.pdf

1962-DEL-2006-Form-1-(26-08-2011).pdf

1962-del-2006-form-1.pdf

1962-del-2006-form-18.pdf

1962-del-2006-form-2.pdf

1962-del-2006-form-26.pdf

1962-del-2006-GPA-(10-06-2013).pdf

1962-DEL-2006-GPA-(26-08-2011).pdf

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Patent Number

257534

Indian Patent Application Number

1962/DEL/2006

PG Journal Number

42/2013

Publication Date

18-Oct-2013

Grant Date

11-Oct-2013

Date of Filing

31-Aug-2006

Name of Patentee

PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

Applicant Address

LUDHIANA-141 004, AN INDIAN UNIVERSITY INDIA.

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	GURDEV SINGH HIRA	DIRECTORATE OF RESEARCH PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, LUDHIANA-141 004, INDIA.
2	SURINDER SINGH KUKAL	DEPARTMENT OF SOILS, PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY , LUDHIANA-141 004, INDIA.
3	AJMER SINGH SIDHU	PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, LUDHIANA-141 004, INDIA.

PCT International Classification Number

F42B 12/78

PCT International Application Number

N/A

PCT International Filing date

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1			NA