Design of a Smart Water-Saving Irrigation System for Agriculture Based on a Wireless Sensor Network for Better Crop Yield

Abstract

Precision agriculture is a decision-support system that helps farmers to make better decisions in the management of their farms, thus increasing returns while preserving resources. An automated irrigation system facilitates continuous and efficient irrigation under conditions of water and labor scarcity. Overwatering of crops causes nutrients to flow off the land surface and this can lead to lower crop yields. This wireless technology helps farmers to address the problem of overwatering and underwatering their crops. Currently, automation is one of the more important aspects affecting human life. It not only provides comfort but also reduces energy, increases efficiency and saves time. The proposed system uses wireless technology to irrigate crops in need of water. Water requirement varies depending on the type of crop, for example, paddyfields needs more water while crops like ragi needs less water. The proposed system irrigates based on the water requirements of particular crops in particular areas and the system as designed also provides smart irrigation technology at a low cost, usable by Indian farmers. Temperature, humidity, moisture of the land, and the water level in the tank will be measured and sent to the user via GSM communication. The water pump is automatically operated through the messages and Android application. Data is stored in the cloud for analysis. The proposed moisture-sensing method has the ability to be incorporated into an automated drip irrigation scheme and perform automated, precision agriculture in conjunction with decentralized water control.