Agrosmart Monitoring and Watering System

Driving Question

How can we design and implement a smart agricultural system to enhance crop productivity, minimize manual labor, and address the challenges posed by climate change, including issues such as overwatering, poor temperature regulation, and inadequate sunlight exposure?

Project Outline

We propose the development of a Smart Sustainable Urban Farming System. This system integrates various sensors and actuators to monitor and regulate the environmental conditions for optimal plant growth.

Background info

In response to the grueling conditions faced by farmers working in hot and humid environments, this project aims to automate plant care for greater convenience. The system, driven by precise sensors, monitors temperature, humidity, and soil moisture to ensure optimal plant conditions. By automating these processes, it alleviates the physical strain on farmers, reduces the risk of heat-related illnesses, and enhances overall efficiency in agriculture. The emphasis on simplicity and easy maintenance makes it a practical solution for farmers with limited resources. Ultimately, the project strives to provide a reliable and convenient tool for farmers, transforming the way they care for their crops.

Research on Problems in Agriculture:

1. Overwatering

Issue: Overwatering is a common problem in agriculture, leading to water wastage, nutrient leaching, and increased susceptibility to diseases.

Research Findings: Studies have shown that traditional irrigation methods often result in overwatering due to imprecise control systems and inadequate monitoring of soil moisture levels. This can lead to decreased crop yield, water resource depletion, and environmental damage.

2. Poor Temperature Regulation

Issue: Fluctuations in temperature can negatively impact plant growth and development. Extremes in temperature, whether too high or too low, can result in stress, reduced photosynthesis, and ultimately affect crop yield.

Research Findings: Climate change has led to unpredictable weather patterns, making it challenging for farmers to regulate temperatures effectively. Traditional farming practices may not be equipped to handle these fluctuations, necessitating the need for smart systems that can dynamically adjust environmental conditions to optimize plant growth.

3. Inadequate Sunlight Exposure

Issue: Insufficient sunlight exposure can hinder the process of photosynthesis, which is crucial for plant growth and productivity. Shaded areas or inconsistent sunlight distribution across a crop field can result in uneven growth and reduced yields.

Research Findings: Studies have highlighted the importance of optimizing sunlight exposure for various crops. Factors such as shadowing from structures, uneven terrain, or seasonal changes can lead to suboptimal conditions. Smart agricultural systems can address these challenges by using sensors to monitor light conditions and adjusting the placement of crops or using artificial lighting to supplement sunlight.

These identified problems underscore the need for a comprehensive smart agricultural system that integrates sensors for monitoring soil moisture, temperature, and sunlight exposure. The proposed solution aims to mitigate these challenges by automating the control of environmental conditions, providing real-time data to farmers, and optimizing resource usage for sustainable and efficient urban farming.

Product Solutions:

1. Smart Irrigation System:

A sensor-based smart irrigation system that utilizes soil moisture sensors to monitor the exact moisture levels in the soil. This system would be equipped with precision control mechanisms, allowing farmers to automate irrigation based on real-time data rather than relying on traditional schedules.

Benefits:

Water Conservation: By providing precise control over irrigation, this system can significantly reduce water wastage and prevent nutrient leaching, ensuring optimal water usage for crop growth.

Increased Crop Yield: Maintaining ideal soil moisture levels helps promote healthier plant growth, leading to higher crop yields and better overall agricultural productivity.

Environmental Sustainability: Reduced water wastage contributes to environmental conservation by preserving water resources and minimizing the ecological impact of agriculture.

2. Climate-Adaptive Environmental Control System:

An advanced environmental control system that incorporates temperature and climate sensors to dynamically regulate the conditions within greenhouse or open-field farming environments. This system can automatically adjust factors such as temperature, humidity, and airflow to provide optimal conditions for crop growth.

Benefits:

Climate Resilience: By adapting to unpredictable weather patterns, this system helps mitigate the negative effects of temperature extremes, ensuring plants are not stressed and can maintain efficient photosynthesis.

Energy Efficiency: The system can be designed to optimize energy usage, incorporating renewable energy sources and efficient climate control mechanisms to reduce overall energy consumption.

Crop Quality Assurance: Maintaining consistent and optimal environmental conditions enhances crop quality, reducing the likelihood of yield losses due to extreme temperatures and climate fluctuations.

3. Sunlight Optimization and Artificial Lighting System:

A smart agricultural system that combines sunlight exposure monitoring with the integration of artificial lighting when necessary. This system employs sensors to track sunlight distribution and can activate artificial lights strategically to supplement insufficient natural light.

Benefits:

Photosynthesis Enhancement: Ensures that crops receive adequate and consistent sunlight, promoting optimal photosynthesis and overall plant health.

Crop Uniformity: By addressing shading issues and uneven sunlight distribution, this system helps achieve uniform crop growth, reducing the risk of underdeveloped areas in the field.

Year-Round Production: Enables year-round cultivation by compensating for seasonal changes and providing artificial lighting during periods of reduced sunlight, extending growing seasons and enhancing overall crop yield.

Solution:

The m5stack is connected to an ENV II sensor, light sensor, RGB LED, Earth sensor, and a servo motor. The ENV II sensor will capture the relative humidity and temperature of the surrounding atmosphere. The light sensor and Earth sensor will capture the amount of light and moisture level of the soil. The m5stack will then display these data on the screen and a QR code which allows the user to check these data on the app. Upon certain conditions, the RGB LED will light depending on the amount of light it is receiving. If the moisture level of the soil is too dry or too wet or the perfect amount, the m5stack will display an image and text to remind the user to water the plant. If the moisture level of the soil is too dry, the servo motor of the m5stack will rotate thus releasing the water stored in a bottle. When the moisture level is optimum for photosynthesis, the servo motor will return back to its original position thus stopping the water from flowing.

Conclusion:

Implementing these smart agricultural solutions collectively creates a comprehensive system that tackles overwatering, poor temperature regulation, and inadequate sunlight exposure, promoting sustainable and efficient urban farming practices.