A Real-Time Monitoring System for Soilless Agriculture Tomato Plants Using Sensors and the Internet of Things

Tomatoes are used in various cuisines worldwide. The demand for tomatoes increased due to climate change, supply chain distribution, and many factors. The overall economy impacted both the farmers and the consumers. To solve these issues in traditional agriculture, the method of growing plants using soilless methods with nutrient-rich water has been introduced. The advantages of soilless farming are that it increases the yield, consumes less water, and avoids most pests and diseases. In this study, we propose a monitoring system for tomato plants cultivated through soilless agriculture that utilizes sensors. Specifically, we employ the FC28 Soil Moisture Sensor, DHT11 Humidity and Temperature Sensor, and the LM393 Photosensitive LDR Sensor Module to keep track of the growing conditions of the tomato plants. Using IoT, the farm data is stored in a cloud, providing real-time farm data. The proposed work helps to identify the potential problems, such as overwatering or dehydration of the plant, as soon as possible. Also, it improves the efficiency and productivity of farming with higher yield and quality at low cost.