Baseline Systems BaseStation 3200 V12 - Manual (Page 15)

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
Lower
Limit
Also called Lower Threshold. In this soil moisture based, smart watering strategy,
irrigation is suspended or skipped until the soil dries to the lower limit, which may
be set manually, or set using the automatic calibration process. This watering
strategy naturally waters deeply and infrequently and promotes deeper root
growth in plants. The controller will water for a specified run time each time it is
allowed to water. When you are using this watering strategy, remember to ensure
that ½ inch or more of water is applied frequently enough to water sufficiently
during the hottest period of the season. Refer to Understanding Lower & Upper
Limit Watering Strategies on page 56.
Upper
Limit
Also called Upper Threshold. In this soil moisture based, smart watering strategy,
irrigation events are scheduled for specific times and dates, but the total run time
is adjusted by the controller to bring soil moisture up and very slightly over field
capacity. This watering strategy is particularly useful for landscapes that need to
be at a desired moisture level on a regular schedule, such as sports fields or heavy
use parks. On these types of properties, damage to turf takes place when the soil
is either too wet or too dry. Refer to Understanding Lower & Upper Limit Watering
Strategies on page 56.
One important thing to remember about watering strategies – any one zone (or valve) can only be
watered according to one strategy. In other words, you cannot configure a zone to be watered
automatically using a soil moisture sensor and also be watered on a separate timed schedule.
Zones can be linked together and watered as a group, regardless of the watering strategy selected.
Refer to Linking Zones (Creating a Scheduling Group) on page 42for more information.
Also note that, even with soil moisture based watering strategies, it is important to program the
controller so it will put down as much water as required to maintain plant health during the heat of
the summer. The 3200 has built-in limits that control how much it is allowed to modify run times or
watering days before it assumes that there is an equipment malfunction of some kind.
One of the most common irrigation programming mistakes is to apply too little water during the
hottest days of the season. Baseline recommends that, regardless of watering strategy, you
program each zone to water long enough to put down at least ½ inch of water each time the
controller is allowed to water.
For suggestions on programming your controller for these moisture sensor based watering
strategies, refer to Tips for Setting Up Common Configurations on page 107.
Root Depth and Plant Water Efficiency
Studies show that most plants, in particular standard turf grasses, do not grow deeper roots unless
prompted to do so. While some turf grass varietals rapidly grow deeper root structures when
properly watered, even Kentucky bluegrass will grow roots in excess of 12 inches in appropriate soil
textures when it is watered optimally.
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