Problem: “Water Wastage in Agriculture”

Description: Over 50% of agricultural water is wasted due to inefficient irrigation practices, leading to groundwater depletion, crop loss, and financial strain on farmers.

Effects: Environmental degradation, reduced crop yields, and economic instability for farmers.

Solution

Soil Sense: Automated Precision Irrigation

Objective: Monitor soil moisture, light intensity, temperature, and humidity to automate watering only when necessary. Data is logged and visualized for optimization.

Parts Used:

– Soil Moisture Sensor (x2): Measures soil hydration levels.

– DHT11 (x5): Tracks air temperature and humidity.

– Photoresistor (x10): Measures sunlight intensity to adjust watering schedules.

– Relay Modules (5V 1-channel x5): Controls water pump activation.

– TT Motor or DC Motor (x6): Simulates water pump operation.

– ESP32 (x9): Manages sensor data and relay control.

– Breadboards (x6): Prototyping circuitry.

Process

1. Sensor Setup:

– Calibrate soil moisture sensor for dry/wet thresholds.

– Connect DHT11 and photoresistor to ESP32.

2. Automation Logic:

– Use MicroPython to read sensors every 10 minutes.

– Activate relay (and thus the motor/pump) if soil moisture < threshold AND light > 500 lux (indicating daylight).

3. Data Transmission:

– Send sensor readings to Google Sheets (via IFTTT) or a Flask server.

– Plot daily trends to optimize watering schedules.

4. User Interface:

– Optional OLED (x4) to display sensor values locally.

Benefits:

– Reduces water usage by 30–50% through precision irrigation.

– Improves crop yield by maintaining optimal soil conditions.

– Lowers energy costs by automating pump operation.

– Scalable for large farms with multiple ESP32 nodes.