Measurement of Soil Parameters Using Sensor Network

Abstract

Plants mainly utilize the macronutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (in short as NPK) in the
soil. The soil fertility and the root growth in plants are dependent on the nutrient levels in the soil. After
annual seasonal harvest, the nutrient level in soil gets depleted, in order to replenish these nutrients
fertilizers are recommended based on soil tests. Modern day, farmers and plantation workers require
easily available, robust, ready-made instrumental devices to measure the nutrients in the soil. Our task
recommendation is to develop an IoT logical measuring device which can be used to remotely monitor
and estimate the soil macronutrient levels using sensor network. The nutrient concentration is estimated
using statistical data analysis and the values obtained are normalized based on soil conditions. We are
operating the system with a TI Microcontroller to control and transmit information. A sensor network
is interfaced to draw sample readings from the soil. For our project we are making use of capacitive
type soil moisture sensor in order to obtain the soil measurable. The data gathered are recorded and
displayed on a developed mobile application. Our system provides the following soil parameters: - soil
moisture, electrical conductivity and Macronutrient (Nitrogen, phosphorus and Potash) levels in the
soil. On analysis of the data gathered, the deficient supplements in the soil is found and the fertilizer
required to compensate the depleted nutrients can be estimated. We develop this system for the benefit
of farmers and plantation workers to test and monitor the soil parameters of their field.