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amc2021:groupd:start [2021/09/06 14:13] – munashe001amc2021:groupd:start [2023/01/05 14:38] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-====== SOIL MOISTURE & AUTOMATIC PLANT WATERING SYSTEM ======+====== SOIL MOISTURE MONITORING SYSTEM ======
  
 ==== Group D: Munashe Chabvuta(24603) ==== ==== Group D: Munashe Chabvuta(24603) ====
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 Soil moisture is major variable in plant functions. It acts as a solvent where nutrients and minerals are broken down for easy absorption via plant roots. It provides turgidity which gives the plant true stability, positioning and further controls the exchange of heat energy and water between the land surface and the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Furthermore soil moisture plays a crucial role in the development of weather patterns and the formation of precipitation. As the climate and weather patterns change, moisture availability is becoming more variable affecting plant functions. As a result soil moisture data can be taken into consideration for reservoir management, early warning of droughts, irrigation scheduling and crop yield forecasting.[[https://www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities/soil-moisture|Earth Science]]  Soil moisture is major variable in plant functions. It acts as a solvent where nutrients and minerals are broken down for easy absorption via plant roots. It provides turgidity which gives the plant true stability, positioning and further controls the exchange of heat energy and water between the land surface and the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. Furthermore soil moisture plays a crucial role in the development of weather patterns and the formation of precipitation. As the climate and weather patterns change, moisture availability is becoming more variable affecting plant functions. As a result soil moisture data can be taken into consideration for reservoir management, early warning of droughts, irrigation scheduling and crop yield forecasting.[[https://www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities/soil-moisture|Earth Science]] 
  
-With the importance of soil moisture data at hand, the main aim of the Arduino based project is to monitor moisture availability in a regular house plant in real time over the internet of things through the use of microcontrollers and software. The system has to maintain the moisture content of the soil between the values of 40% and 60% which is the optimum moisture of functionality of the plant under investigation. When the moisture content is below 40% the system has to increase the moisture content by turning on the pump and a fulfilling the moisture requirements of the plant. Once the moisture percentage reaches a value of 60% the water pump switches off. The whole Arduino Based system is brought to life by the following materials and methods.+With the importance of soil moisture data at hand, the main aim of the Arduino based project is to monitor moisture availability in a regular house plant in real time over the internet of things through the use of microcontrollers and software. The system has to maintain the moisture content of the soil between the values of 40% and 60% which is the optimum moisture of functionality of the plant under investigation. When the moisture content is below 40% the system has to increase the moisture content by turning on the pump and a fulfilling the moisture requirements of the plant. Once the moisture percentage reaches a value of 60% the water pump switches off. The whole Arduino Based system is brought to life by the following materials and methods. The physical setup of the system in the image below: 
 + 
 +{{:amc2021:groupd:img-2266.jpg?400|}} 
 +Fig.1 Showing the physical set up of the system 
  
 ==== 2. Materials and Methods ==== ==== 2. Materials and Methods ====
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 {{:amc2021:groupd:img_2239.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:img_2239.jpg?400|}}
-Fig.1: The ESP32 WROVER-B MODULE+Fig.2: The ESP32 WROVER-B MODULE
  
    
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 Dry air Value = 3455 Dry air Value = 3455
 +
 Water air Value = 1625 Water air Value = 1625
  
 {{:amc2021:groupd:capacitive_soil_moisture_sensor.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:capacitive_soil_moisture_sensor.jpg?400|}}
-Fig2.[[https://nettigo.eu/products/capacitive-analog-soil-moisture-sensor|Capacitive soil moisture sensor.]]+Fig.3:[[https://nettigo.eu/products/capacitive-analog-soil-moisture-sensor|Capacitive soil moisture sensor.]]
  
  
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 {{:amc2021:groupd:transistor.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:transistor.jpg?400|}}
-[[https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/basics-of-2n2222|fig3: Shows current flowing from the Collector to the Emitter]]+[[https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/basics-of-2n2222|fig.4: Shows current flowing from the Collector to the Emitter]]
  
 ==== 2.4 IoT (Internet of Things) ==== ==== 2.4 IoT (Internet of Things) ====
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 {{:amc2021:groupd:overview_plant_system.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:overview_plant_system.jpg?400|}}
-Fig4: Shows the Hardware connections of the experiment.+Fig.5: Shows the Hardware connections of the experiment.
  
 The above diagram was produced in fritzing and shows how the soil moisture sensor, the 5V water pump and the ESP32 Module, are connected and to which pins.  The above diagram was produced in fritzing and shows how the soil moisture sensor, the 5V water pump and the ESP32 Module, are connected and to which pins. 
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 {{:amc2021:groupd:schematic.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:schematic.jpg?400|}}
-Fig5: Schematic between the ESP32 & Module parts. +Fig.6: Schematic between the ESP32 & Module parts. 
  
 ===== 3.Results ===== ===== 3.Results =====
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 {{:amc2021:groupd:img-2435.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:img-2435.jpg?400|}}
-Fig.6 Shows a graph from ThingSpeak streaming channel+Fig.7: Shows a graph from ThingSpeak streaming channel
  
  
-Fig.6 Was obtained from a mobile phone view and it shows a better visual presentation than the graph in Fig.6. It shows soil moisture percentages taken between 16:02 and 16:27 with a 5 min interval within the specified time period. The moisture percentage was quite high with an average value of 80%.The starting value was already high meaning that point of measurement was already wet but this was not the case for every point of the soil. As a result the fluctuations shown are caused by shifts in the moisture sensor about various points of the plant for testing  purposes in order to achieve a uniform soil moisture percentage across the plant. There was a steep decrease of the moisture percentage from 80% to 52% after the moisture sensor was shifted to a different location within the plant. Within the 5 min interval from 16:07 t0 16:12, it can be observed that the moisture continued to decrease up to 21%. This triggered the pump pin to supply water, as the moisture percentage was below 40%. Furthermore after irrigation there is a steep increase in the soil the moisture percentage from 21% to 96% at that particular point of water application. After the water has infiltrated and percolated due to gravity, the graph shows the soil moisture percentage shifting back to its starting reading of about 80%. At this point the pump is off and real time monitoring of the soil moisture continues and maintained until any physical parameters come into play.+Fig.7 reveals soil moisture percentages taken between 16:02 and 16:27 with a 5 min interval within the specified time period. The moisture percentage was quite high with an average value of 80%.The starting value was already high meaning the point of measurement was already wet but this was not the case for every point of measurement of the moisture. As a result the fluctuations shown were caused by shifts in the position of the moisture sensor about various points of the plant for testing  purposes in order to achieve a uniform soil moisture percentage across the plant. There was a steep decrease of the moisture percentage from 80% to 52% after the moisture sensor was shifted to a different location within the plant. Within the 5 min interval from 16:07 t0 16:12, it can be observed that the moisture continued to decrease up to 21%. This triggered the pump pin to supply water, as the moisture percentage was below 40%. Furthermore after irrigation there is a steep increase in the soil the moisture percentage from 21% to 96% at that particular point of water application. After the water has infiltrated and percolated due to gravity, the graph shows the soil moisture percentage shifting back to its starting reading of about 80%. At this point the pump is off and real time monitoring of the soil moisture continues and maintained until any physical parameters come into play.
  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
 {{:amc2021:groupd:img-2400.jpg?400|}} {{:amc2021:groupd:img-2400.jpg?400|}}
-Fig.7 above shows a View obtained from a mobile phone. +Fig.8 above shows a View obtained from a mobile phone. 
  
 The above figure shows earlier moisture percentage of the point of measurement   before fig.6 was obtained. Between the time intervals 14:45 and 15:10 the moisture percentage had a constant run between the values of the 69% to 71%. This indicates by the time the graph in figure 6 was obtained the overall moisture percentages of the soil on the point of measurement had increased from 70% to 80% giving a 10% increase in the moisture content with a space of 120 minutes.  The above figure shows earlier moisture percentage of the point of measurement   before fig.6 was obtained. Between the time intervals 14:45 and 15:10 the moisture percentage had a constant run between the values of the 69% to 71%. This indicates by the time the graph in figure 6 was obtained the overall moisture percentages of the soil on the point of measurement had increased from 70% to 80% giving a 10% increase in the moisture content with a space of 120 minutes. 
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 To conclude, the main aim of the investigation was not achieved ceteris paribus, the monitoring revealed more parameters to take into account when measuring the soil moisture content of a given environment. We can take into account the location of the plant, the soil characteristics and the type of weather conditions subjected to the plant . It was quite challenging to maintain the moisture levels at optimum soil moisture levels between 41% to 60 %, as a result the plant maintained its moisture level at approximately 80% which can put the plant under stress, which can cut the air supply to roots and to microorganisms resulting in roots rotting and leading to plant disease. It is important to take into account the amount of water being supplied to the plant to maintain a healthy living plant.     To conclude, the main aim of the investigation was not achieved ceteris paribus, the monitoring revealed more parameters to take into account when measuring the soil moisture content of a given environment. We can take into account the location of the plant, the soil characteristics and the type of weather conditions subjected to the plant . It was quite challenging to maintain the moisture levels at optimum soil moisture levels between 41% to 60 %, as a result the plant maintained its moisture level at approximately 80% which can put the plant under stress, which can cut the air supply to roots and to microorganisms resulting in roots rotting and leading to plant disease. It is important to take into account the amount of water being supplied to the plant to maintain a healthy living plant.    
  
-==== Video Presentation ====+==== 5. Video Presentation ====
  
 +{{ :amc2021:groupd:vid-20210906-wa0006.mp4 |}}
  
  
  
amc2021/groupd/start.1630930386.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/01/05 14:38 (external edit)