Enhancing wheat storage efficiency: A microcontroller-based environment control system for silo

Agricultural activities are incomplete without the proper wheat storage, and maintaining optimal storage conditions requires an effective management system. This study presents a control system designed to improve the storage conditions of wheat using an Arduino UNO, a DHT22 sensor, and a fan cooling system to manage the environment. The device continually monitors temperature and relative humidity, as well as giving a non-destructive evaluation of the moisture content of wheat kept in silos. During the study, the system confirmed its efficacy by effectively maintaining appropriate storage conditions, such as average temperature and humidity levels, which encourage safe wheat storage. The automatic fan system effectively regulates temperature fluctuations, providing ideal conditions. The study examined the system's capacity to control essential parameters such as moisture content and germination rate of preserved seeds. The results indicated that the temperature dropped by 1.25 °C per minute when the fan was activated, with a threshold activation temperature of 30 °C. The recorded temperature and humidity of the stored wheat were 34.76 °C and 43.33 %, respectively. The moisture content ranged from 15.26 % to 11.73 %, while the seed germination rate ranged from 94.27 % to 75.66 %. Compared to conventional storage methods, the system demonstrated superior performance in reducing moisture levels, stabilizing temperature fluctuations, and preserving wheat quality, ultimately lowering the risk of insect infestation and post-harvest losses. Although its success, issues of scalability, cost-effectiveness, and adaption to varied environmental circumstances were recognized. Future experimental research should concentrate on incorporating modern IoT technologies for real-time monitoring, enhancing energy efficiency, and evaluating the system in bigger storage facilities or with diverse crop varieties. Rectifying these deficiencies will augment the system's relevance and bolster rural food security and economic stability.