Design and Development of Solar Powered IoT Enabled Multi-layer Soil Moisture Probe

Technological development has been taking place at an expeditious pace over the last few decades, effecting our every aspect of life. However, the agricultural sector so far by and large remains underdeveloped. By incorporating the neoteric advancements in IoT and modern technologies, we can revolutionize this sector, making it more efficient, sustainable, and productive. This research focuses on the development of IoT based solar powered Soil Moisture (SM) monitoring system which is also can be considered as plants’ root zone (SM based) monitoring technology. Instead of traditional method of monitoring the moisture of ground level, this research adopts a new method that monitors the moisture level of the soil at 5 different levels. Measuring temperature and moisture in multiple layers and points of soil allows for a precise and accurate understanding of the water requirements of crop roots during their growth phase. Additionally, it can enhance the water utilization efficiency and provide fundamental data for studying the variability of soil water infiltration and implementing intelligent and accurate irrigation. The developed probe features 5 soil moisture sensors placed at different depth at 30-180 cm depth, along with 3 temperature sensors at 50-150 cm depth and ESP8266 module to implement IoT connectivity. The sensor readings are transmitted to smartphone through an app that indicates the soil moisture level as well the temperature at various depths of soil. Significantly, the entire system operates on solar power, underscoring the commitment to green energy and sustainable practices. Initial results obtained from local farmland indicates that the system is reliable, efficient and accurate.