IoT Based Smart Irrigation System using Real Time Soil Moisture Monitor

One of the most urgent issues of contemporary agriculture, given growing population, climate change and water shortage, is the efficient use of water. Conventional irrigation relies on fixed time schedules and manual control, which often lead to unnecessary water usage and low crop yield. In this paper, an Internet of Things (IoT) based smart irrigation system is presented that measures soil moisture in real time and controls irrigation accordingly. The proposed system combines low-cost soil moisture, temperature and humidity sensors, a microcontroller unit, and a cloud-based monitoring system capable of making autonomous decisions. A threshold-based control algorithm ensures that irrigation is provided only when necessary. Experimental evaluation shows that the proposed system reduces water consumption by about 30–35 percent without negatively affecting optimal soil moisture. The system is affordable, scalable and suitable for precision agriculture.