Smart Framing Through IoT Sensors

Currently, farmers assess their soil and crops by walking through the fields occasionally. This paper describes a more efficient method: small sensor units positioned in the soil which transmit data to the phone or computer all day. We describe the setup of this system including the soil moisture, soil temperature, soil pH, nutrient and weather sensors and the way that they are used to identify when to water and fertilize. We explain the system components, discuss the major sensors and wireless communications, and provide a simple testing plan. Previous field trials show that watering based on sensor data can save 20-50% of water without compromising yield and issues can be detected in minutes and not days. We also discuss difficulties (cost, limited network coverage, sensor degradation over time and security concerns), and how we might see things evolve in the future. Overall, sensor-monitoring is practical and can be used to reduce waste in farming.