IoT-Based Irrigation System For Agriculture 5.0

Agriculture 5.0 based on IoT technologies, have shown promise in improving the sustainability and productivity of agricultural practices. In Romania, the impact of climate change imposes a lot of challenges, with crops been severely affected by droughts and extreme temperatures. To address these challenges, various IoT-based systems, including irrigation systems, have been developed to promote sustainable agriculture. This research introduces a cost-efficient mobile irrigation system that incorporates NodeMCU with ESP8266, two relay modules, one solenoid valve, and accurate sensors, such as a soil moisture sensor (UM) and an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor (UL), which provides an accuracy of 0.3cm. The use of this sensors enable precision irrigation management, making it an effective solution for efficient water usage in agriculture. The sensor data are sent to a real-time database for further analysis. In addition, the project uses WiFi connectivity to enable remote monitoring and control via a smartphone application. Based on an evaluation conducted under varying precipitation levels and sensors mea-surments, the proposed system was found to manage soil moisture by adjusting the irrigation process according to calculated Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) values. This approach was observed to reduce water consumption, enhance soil moisture management, and promote greater resource conservation. The system presents an economical alternative that is well within the means of farmers seeking to streamline their irrigation processes.