Irrigation Guide

Overview

Before You Start

Irrigation setup requires some initial configuration. Make sure you have:

✓ Created your Enterprise and Property
✓ Placed Valve markers on your map (where irrigation starts)
✓ Placed Target markers on your map (where irrigator finishes)

Architecture

How Irrigation Components Connect

The irrigation system has several interconnected parts. Understanding how they relate helps you set everything up correctly.

Pump Engine The power source — diesel, petrol, electric, or LPG. Tracks engine hours, fuel consumption, and service intervals
Irrigator The physical irrigation equipment (traveling gun, centre pivot, hard hose, etc.). Linked to a pump engine for automatic hour tracking
Irrigation Run A defined path from a Valve Marker to a Target Marker, serviced by a specific irrigator. Each run has its own soil data for scheduling
Irrigation Log An individual irrigation event on a specific run — with start time, run time, ground speed, and status (Planned, Completed, or Reported)
Irrigation Settings Property-level configuration: water allocation, scheduling defaults, scheduling windows, and spray data

Step 1: Add Pump Engines

Pump engines power your irrigation system. Tracking them separately lets you monitor engine hours, fuel consumption, and service schedules.

Create the Engine

From the Home screen, tap Irrigation → Pump Engines → +. Enter the engine name (e.g. “Diesel Pump – North”) and select the engine type: Diesel, Petrol, Electric, or LPG.

Set Consumption Rate

For diesel, petrol, or LPG engines, enter the Fuel Consumption Rate in litres per hour. For electric engines, enter Energy Consumption in kWh per hour.

Configure Hour Tracking

Enter Season Start Hours (the current reading from the pump’s hour meter) and Service Interval (hours between services, e.g. 250 or 500). The app calculates current hours automatically from your irrigation logs.

Understanding Engine Hours

Season Start Hours is your baseline reading from the pump’s hour meter (e.g. 500 hours on July 1). As you log irrigation, the app adds run time to calculate Current Hours automatically (e.g. 500 + 550 logged hours = 1,050). When service is due, a warning badge appears on the Irrigation hub.

Maintenance

Pump Engine Service Tracking

The app monitors service requirements and warns you when maintenance is due.

Service Interval How often service is needed (e.g. every 250 hours)
Last Service Hours Recorded when you log a service event
Hours Until Next Service Live countdown based on logged irrigation hours
Service History Full log of past services with date, hours, type (oil change, grease, major service), and notes

To record a service: open the pump engine, scroll to Service History, tap +, enter the date, current hour meter reading, service type, and notes.

Step 2: Add Irrigators

Irrigators are your physical irrigation equipment. Each irrigator is linked to a pump engine for automatic hour and fuel tracking.

Traveling Gun

Self-propelled sprinkler on wheels with soft hose. Common for pasture irrigation.

Hard Hose

Hard hose reel irrigator. Retracts the hose automatically as the gun moves.

Centre Pivot

Rotating arm around a central point. Covers large circular areas efficiently.

Lateral Move

Linear system that moves sideways across rectangular fields.

Flood

Gravity-fed surface irrigation. Common for broadacre and rice crops.

Drip

Low-pressure emitters for precise water delivery. Used in orchards and vineyards.

Create the Irrigator

Tap Irrigation → Irrigators → +. Enter the name (e.g. “Gun 1”), select the type, and set Max Run Length (metres) and Flow Rate (GPM or L/min).

Link to a Pump Engine

Select the pump engine that powers this irrigator. Engine hours and fuel estimates are then tracked automatically whenever you log irrigation on this irrigator.

Runs

Step 3: Set Up Irrigation Runs

An Irrigation Run defines a path the irrigator travels — from a valve marker to a target marker. Each run has its own soil data for scheduling calculations.

Create a Run Tap Irrigation → Runs → +. Enter a name (e.g. “North Paddock – Run 1”), select the valve marker, target marker, and irrigator
Map Selection Tap Select on Map to visually pick your valve and target markers. A line shows the run path for confirmation
Soil Data Open the run and tap Soil Settings. Set soil texture (Sand, Sandy Loam, Loam, Clay Loam, or Clay), root depth, depletion trigger, and refill target
Crop Presets Select a crop type and the app auto-fills root depth and trigger values. Adjust for your specific conditions if needed

Irrigation run setup with valve and target markers on the property map

Crop Type Presets

Select a crop type when configuring a run and the app auto-fills soil parameters. Adjust values for your specific conditions.

Pasture / Grass

Root depth: 150mm
Suggested trigger: 50%

Lucerne / Alfalfa

Root depth: 300mm
Suggested trigger: 60%

Cereals

Root depth: 200mm
Suggested trigger: 50%

Vegetables

Root depth: 100mm
Suggested trigger: 30%

Orchard / Vineyard

Root depth: 400mm
Suggested trigger: 40%

Turf / Lawn

Root depth: 75mm
Suggested trigger: 50%

Settings

Step 4: Configure Irrigation Settings

Property-level settings control water allocation tracking, scheduling defaults, and time windows. Access via Irrigation → gear icon.

Water Allocation Enter your licensed annual allocation in ML (megalitres) and the allocation start date (usually July 1). The app tracks usage against this allocation on the dashboard
Scheduling Defaults Set default crop type, root depth, depletion trigger, refill target, and changeover time (minutes between logs on the same irrigator)
Scheduling Windows Define when irrigation can occur (e.g. “Day Shift” 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, weekdays only). Used for conflict detection and suggesting available time slots
Spray Data (Optional) For traveling gun irrigators: import nozzle charts that define flow rate and application rate at various pressures and speeds. Load defaults, import JSON, or enter manually

Logging Irrigation

Once setup is complete, record irrigation events to track water usage, engine hours, and compliance.

Open the Calendar or Logs

Go to Irrigation → Calendar (weekly view) or Logs (list view). Tap + to add a new log.

Select the Run

Choose which irrigation run you’re logging. The run’s irrigator, pump engine, and soil data are loaded automatically.

Enter Details

Set the Start Time, Run Time (hours), and Ground Speed (m/hr). If spray data is configured, the app calculates the expected application rate.

Set Status & Save

Choose Planned (future), Completed (done), or Reported (submitted to authorities). Only Completed and Reported logs count towards engine hours and water usage.

Operations

What You Can Do

With irrigation setup complete, you have access to the full irrigation management system.

Log Irrigation Record completed irrigation events with run time, ground speed, and status
Schedule Irrigation Plan future irrigation with the scheduling wizard, using PAW (Plant Available Water) calculations based on soil type, crop, and weather
View Reports Track water usage against your annual allocation with visual progress bars. Generate compliance reports for water authorities
Monitor Service Keep pump engines maintained with service interval warnings and full service history
Calendar View Visualise your irrigation schedule in weekly format with conflict detection and available time slots

Troubleshooting

Run doesn’t appear in the scheduler

The run needs soil data configured (soil texture, root depth, depletion trigger). Open the run and tap Soil Settings. Also check the run has both a valve marker and target marker set.

Engine hours not updating

Ensure the irrigator is linked to the pump engine (edit the irrigator and select the pump). Also check that your logs are set to Completed or Reported status — Planned logs don’t count towards engine hours.

Can’t find my valve marker

Verify the marker type is set to Valve (not a general marker). Check it’s a property-level marker, not an area-level marker. Valve and target markers must be placed at the property level in Map Setup.

Water usage showing wrong

Verify the flow rate is correct on the irrigator. Check run time is accurate on your logs. Confirm the log status is Completed or Reported — Planned logs don’t contribute to water usage calculations.