Cattle-Based Manure Management and Soil Fertilization System for Labor Efficiency

Improving and maintaining soil fertility is a crucial responsibility among essential farming tasks. On cattle farms, the task of collecting and distributing cow manure for soil fertility management has been one of the most substantial shares of the excessive workload for farmers. This paper introduces a novel method for labor-reduced manure management and soil fertilization process, aimed at improving labor efficiency. The proposed approach utilizes an Internet of Things solution that leverages the natural behavior and excretory activities of cattle. Dividing farmlands into smaller units, installed end nodes collect soil nutrient data from each area. Through a centralized web application, farmers can remotely oversee and manage the soil fertility of their entire farmland. Upon a farmer identifying areas with nutrient deficiencies, the proposed system utilizes feeders and bells to attract cattle to these low-fertility areas, encouraging them to deposit manure and enhance soil fertility. The LoRaWAN protocol facilitates bi-directional interaction between farmers located remotely and sensors deployed across vast agricultural landscapes, enabling efficient communication in expansive farming settings.