Research-informed water balance
Give the root zone what it needs—no more.
Apply the proposal's Water Balance Theory with evapotranspiration, effective rain, recent irrigation, drainage and a direct soil check.
Transparent decision rule
Δ soil water = rain + irrigation − ET₀ × Kc − drainage
The proposed automated system would maintain a seven-day ledger, add a three-day weather forecast, compare the estimate with a crop-stage threshold, and then control a pump relay.
Water-balance estimator
Update one planning period at a time. Use recent records where available; this transparent estimate does not replace a direct soil check.
Check soil first
A sensor or hand-feel check prevents watering from stale data.
Adjust for crop stage
Young and flowering crops have different water needs.
Subtract effective rain
Not all forecast rain enters the root zone.
Review after watering
Check infiltration, ponding and runoff before repeating.
Method adapted from Olaniyi's 2025 MSc research proposal. Values are planning aids, not agronomic prescriptions. Review the proposed research and validation plan.