Design of solar-powered automatic plant watering based on Internet of Things

Traditional manual watering practices, which pose challenges for optimal plant growth and resource management, are inefficient and labor-intensive. This study addresses these concerns by presenting a solar-powered, Internet of Things (IoT)-based automatic plant watering system. Utilizing NodeMCU ESP8266 and soil moisture sensors, the system autonomously monitors soil conditions, triggering irrigation only when moisture falls below a predefined threshold. This eliminates dependence on manual intervention, minimizing both water waste and labor burdens. Solar panels provide a sustainable energy source, eliminating dependence on grid power and reducing environmental impact. WiFi connectivity enables remote monitoring by transmitting sensor data to Blynk, a user-friendly IoT platform. Testing demonstrated accurate soil moisture sensing (3.1% error) and effective automated watering based on predefined thresholds. For example, the system automatically watered plants for 4 minutes and 13 seconds after humidity dropped to 37%, stopping once the target moisture level of 71% was reached. Notably, the solar panel successfully powered the system, providing sufficient voltage (12.08 V) and current (1.08 A) for the water pump. This study showcases the feasibility and effectiveness of a sustainable, IoT-based automatic plant watering system for optimized irrigation and environmental stewardship. Future research could optimize watering algorithms for diverse plant types and environmental conditions, explore wider agricultural applications, and further solidify this technology's contribution to responsible water management.