Method and system for treating irrigation water
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for treating irrigation water by introducing a propagating electromagnetic field into the irrigation water as it flows through an irrigation system. The treatments described herein may have a variety of beneficial effects on the water, including a significant increase in the percentage of the water that is maintained in the root zone of a given crop as plant-available water and the essential mineral, e.g. calcium and/or magnesium, uptake of that crop.
1. A method for increasing the essential mineral content of a crop, the method comprising:
treating irrigation water flowing through an irrigation system comprising an arrangement of conduits by introducing an electromagnetic signal into the irrigation water in a manner that produces propagation of an electromagnetic field throughout the water within the arrangement of conduits, and
irrigating a field containing a crop with the treated irrigation water,
thereby causing the crop to have an increased essential mineral content compared to a crop grown in the same manner but without the treatment.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the essential mineral is calcium or magnesium.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the essential mineral is calcium.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the calcium content of the crop is increased by at least 5% relative to a crop grown in the same manner but without treatment with an electromagnetic signal.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the calcium content of the crop is increased by at least 10% relative to a crop grown in the same manner but without treatment with an electromagnetic signal.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the calcium content of the crop is increased by at least 15% relative to a crop grown in the same manner but without treatment with an electromagnetic signal.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signal is conductively introduced into the irrigation water.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the electromagnetic signal is conductively introduced into the irrigation water by any of the following:
(a) a connection between a terminal of an electrical circuit and a conduit containing the irrigation water, wherein the conduit is made of conductive material;
(b) a connection between a terminal of an electrical circuit and a conductive material inserted to a section of a conduit containing the irrigation water; or
(c) a connection between a terminal of an electrical circuit and a conductive material clamped around a section of a conduit containing the irrigation water.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signal is pulsed.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each pulse of the electromagnetic signal has a frequency between 5 kHz and 20 kHz.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic signal has a frequency between 50 kHz and 400 kHz.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing an electromagnetic signal comprises:
generating a radio frequency signal, and
injecting the signal into the irrigation water through an operative connection between the first terminal of an electrical circuit and a conduit of an irrigation system containing the irrigation water,
wherein a second terminal of the electrical circuit is operably connected to ground to balance a load presented by the irrigation system.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical circuit comprises a transformer having a primary coil and secondary coil, wherein the first terminal is a first terminal of the secondary coil and wherein the second terminal is a second terminal of the secondary coil.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the radio frequency signal is generated by a microcontroller.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising amplifying the radio frequency signal before it is injected into the irrigation water.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treatment causes a reduction in the surface tension of the water.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing the amount of fertilizer introduced into the irrigation water.
18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising continuously treating the irrigation water regardless of whether the water is flowing.
19. A method of using a system that introduces an electromagnetic signal into water in a manner that produces propagation of an electromagnetic field through the water to increase the essential mineral content of a crop, the method comprising:
treating irrigation water by introducing an electromagnetic signal into the water in a manner that produces propagation of an electromagnetic field through the water,
irrigating a field containing a crop with the treated irrigation water, and
causing the crop to have an increased essential mineral content compared to a crop grown in the same manner but without the treatment.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the essential mineral is calcium.