Design and Automation of a Solar Powered Soil Moisture Monitoring System (SPSMMS)

Abstract

A solar powered soil moisture monitoring system (SPSMMS) was developed and evaluated at Cavite State University (CvSU) Main Campus, Cavite. The study evaluated the operating performance of the fabricated SPSMMS in terms of sensitivity of sensors, accuracy of reading, and transmission system efficiency. The device was fabricated using locally available materials. Its overall dimension in terms of length, width and height is 0.36m x 0.31m x 2m, respectively. The device is composed of the main frames, automation system, power system. The automation system is composed of main parts such as Arduino Mega2560, resistor type sensors, GSM module, data logger, and RTC. The system reads the moisture level every one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes and send SMS every three (3) hours of operation. The study has two (2) installations placed in the crop production area of CvSU. The soil moisture was at the highest in the first installation compared from the second installation due to different environmental conditions. Installation 1 was placed in a fully irrigated area, slightly shaded, and vegetated. While, installation 2 was placed in a fully open, not vegetated, and not well irrigated. The total fabrication cost of two (2) devices is PhP 31,866.00. The total operating cost per year of the SPSMMS was compared to the standard soil moisture meter (Extech Meter Model) which is PhP 11,520 .00 and PhP 87,600.00, respectively.