In view of the need of automation and informatization in water-saving irrigation, the development in short message remote control system for automatic irrigation is carried on based on SMS via communication network. According to the remote control information received by SMS (the opening and closing commands of the valves, remote irrigation inquiry commands, etc), binary codes needed by the terminal unit are generated by the remote control system to perform irrigation control or state inquiry. The information fed back by the system is firstly processed into PDU strings that conform to the format of SMS, and then are transmitted to the client (mobile phone, computer, etc) by a wireless transmission module through communication network to display the executing state in the field and the inquiry results of the system. With its stability in running, convenience in operation and being workable in use, this system is suitable for wide application in large areas.