Systems and methods for irrigating according to a modified or reset crop growth model

1. An irrigation system for irrigating a crop, the irrigation system comprising:

a plurality of mobile support towers configured to move across a field, each mobile support tower having a motor;

a fluid-carrying conduit supported above the field by the mobile towers;

water emitters coupled with the fluid-carrying conduit;

at least one valve for controlling flow of fluids through the water emitters; and

a control system programmed and configured to:

control operation of at least one of the motors and the valve in accordance with an irrigation schedule to deliver a prescribed amount of water to the crop,

receive crop growth data representative of at least one of growth and health characteristics of the crop,

construct a crop growth model based on the crop growth data, the crop growth model being divided into a plurality of growth stages over time,

receive aerial image data of the crop,

create augmented crop growth data by adjusting the crop growth data in accordance with the aerial image data,

adjust the crop growth model according to the augmented crop growth data,

determine whether a significant crop event has occurred at a current time based on the augmented crop growth data,

if a significant crop event has occurred at the current time, revert the crop growth model according to the augmented crop growth data to a previous one of the plurality of growth stages at the current time, the significant crop event being selected from the group consisting of a pest infestation, a heat wave, a hail storm, a drought, a dry spell, a flood, and high water, and

change the irrigation schedule according to the reverted crop growth model.

2. The irrigation system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control system is positioned locally near one of the mobile towers.

3. The irrigation system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the control system is positioned remotely from the mobile towers.

4. The irrigation system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the crop growth data is received from sensors and corresponds to at least one of an amount of water delivered to the crop; an amount of water in ground in which the crop is planted; air temperature near the crop; humidity near the crop; and soil content of the ground.

5. The irrigation system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the aerial image data is received from a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle.

6. A method of controlling an irrigation system, the method comprising:

irrigating a crop with the irrigation system according to an irrigation schedule;

receiving crop growth data representative of at least one of growth and health characteristics of the crop;

constructing a crop growth model based on the crop growth data, the crop growth model being divided into a plurality of growth stages over time;

receiving aerial image data of the crop;

creating augmented crop growth data by adjusting the crop growth data in accordance with the aerial image data;

adjusting the crop growth model according to the augmented crop growth data;

determining whether a significant crop event has occurred at a current time based on the augmented crop growth data;

if a significant crop event has occurred at the current time, reverting the crop growth model according to the augmented crop growth data to a previous one of the plurality of growth stages at the current time, the significant crop event being selected from the group consisting of a pest infestation, a heat wave, a hail storm, a drought, a dry spell, a flood, and high water; and

changing the irrigation schedule according to the reverted crop growth model.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the crop growth data is received from sensors and corresponds to at least one of an amount of water delivered to the crop; an amount of water in ground in which the crop is planted, air temperature near the crop; humidity near the crop; and soil content of the ground.

8. The method as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the aerial image data is received from a satellite or an unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. A control system for an irrigation system having motors and one or more valves, the control system programmed and configured to:

control operation of at least one of the motors and the valve in accordance with an irrigation schedule to deliver a prescribed amount of water to a crop;

receive crop growth data representative of at least one of growth and health characteristics of the crop;

construct a crop growth model based on the crop growth data, the crop growth model being divided into a plurality of growth stages over time and including rooting depth, yield response, and critical depletion factor;

receive aerial image data of the crop;

create augmented crop growth data by adjusting the crop growth data in accordance with the aerial image data, the augmented crop growth data including Leaf Area Index (LAI), Enhanced Vegetative Index (EVI), and fraction of green vegetation cover (fCover);

determine a crop coefficient value for the crop growth model based on the augmented crop growth data;

adjust the rooting depth, yield response, and critical depletion factor of the crop growth model according to the crop coefficient value;

determine whether a significant crop event has occurred at a current time based on the crop coefficient value;

if a significant crop event has occurred at the current time, revert the crop growth model according to the crop coefficient value to a previous one of the plurality of growth stages at the current time, the significant crop event being selected from the group consisting of a pest infestation, a heat wave, a hail storm, a drought, a dry spell, a flood, and high water; and

change the irrigation schedule according to the reverted crop growth model.

10. The control system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the control system is positioned locally near the irrigation system.

11. The control system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the control system is positioned remotely from the irrigation system.

12. The control system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the crop growth data is received from sensors and corresponds to at least one of an amount of water delivered to the crop; an amount of water in ground in which the crop is planted; air temperature near the crop; humidity near the crop; and soil content of the ground.