Smart agriculture refers to the use of things out of the net solution when using agricultural practices. So, what do we mean by the agricultural Internet of Things? Well, it uses agricultural smart sensors to conveniently collect machine and environmental indicators. Currently, plant cultivation using new agricultural methods is very popular among growers. However, the agricultural Internet of Things is one of the methods of modern agriculture, which is widely used all over the world. In the smart agricultural control system, agricultural IoT sensors are needed to monitor agricultural parameters, including temperature, humidity, light intensity, water nutrient solution levels, pH and EC values, CO, etc.
What are the agricultural IoT sensors?
Temperature sensor
Temperature is one of the key factors that determine the growth and development of plants. The temperature sensor measures real-time temperature readings through electrical signals. The sensor collects data about temperature from a specific source and converts the data into a form that the device or observer can understand. The temperature sensor accurately measures the slower temperature changes of key applications such as facilities or rooms, and sends it to the user’s platform.
All plants and flowers need a lot of sunlight, and each plant group responds differently and has different physiological treatment light intensities. The illuminance sensor can be used to automatically control the lights, such as on/off. Farmers can monitor the light intensity without any human interference.
Soil pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. Soil pH is measured on a scale of 1-14, with 7 being the neutral mark. The ideal range for most plants is between 6-7. Most plants prefer a neutral pH, from 6.2 to 7.0. However, there are many plants that are more specific in their pH requirements, such as blueberries and duhli, which are like a very acidic soil, cloves and clematis, prefer more alkaline soils. Even some, such as hydrangea, change the color of the flower according to the pH of the soil. The pH of the soil where different plants are located is different. Therefore, we need to monitor the soil through a soil pH sensor to ensure that the plants are in a suitable pH environment.
The applicability of the Internet of Things in agriculture:
Smart agriculture is a system of high-tech and effective agriculture and sustainable food cultivation. It is an application that combines connected devices and innovative technologies in agriculture. Intelligent agriculture mainly relies on the Internet of Things, thereby eliminating the need for manual labor for farmers and growers, thereby increasing productivity in various possible ways.
With the recent agricultural trends relying on agriculture, the Internet of Things has brought huge benefits such as efficient water use and optimized investment. It has brought about great benefits, and in recent days, it has become a revolutionary agriculture.
Intelligent agriculture based on the Internet of Things improves the entire agricultural system through real-time monitoring of the agricultural environment. With the help of sensors and interconnections, the agricultural Internet of Things not only saves farmers’ time, but also reduces the extravagant use of resources such as water and electricity. It checks various factors such as humidity, temperature, and soil, and gives clear real-time observations.
Advantages of Agricultural Internet of Things in Agricultural Development
Sensors have been introduced into agricultural operations for a long time. However, the problem with using traditional sensor technology is that we cannot obtain real-time data from the sensor. With the introduction of the agricultural Internet of Things, more advanced sensors are being used. Agricultural sensors are now connected to the cloud via a wireless network. This allows us to understand real-time data from agricultural sensors and make decisions effective
The application of the Internet of Things in agriculture helps farmers monitor soil moisture in real time and achieve precise irrigation. The advancement of agricultural Internet of Things technology in agricultural operations has enabled agricultural Internet of Things sensors to be applied at every step of the farming process, such as how much time and resources it takes for seeds to become fully planted vegetables. The agricultural Internet of Things is the second wave of the green revolution. The benefits that farmers gain by adapting to the Internet of Things are twofold. It uses accurate data to improve farmers’ decision-making, helping farmers reduce costs while increasing yields.
Application of Agricultural Internet of Things in Agriculture
Precision agriculture:
Precision agriculture is one of the most famous applications of the Internet of Things in agriculture. Through the realization of intelligent agricultural applications such as livestock monitoring, agricultural environmental monitoring and weather monitoring, the breeding practice is more precise and controllable. The goal of precision agriculture is to analyze the data generated by sensors in order to respond accordingly. Precision agriculture helps farmers generate data with the help of sensors and analyze this information to make smart and fast decisions. There are many sophisticated farming techniques, such as irrigation management, livestock management, etc., which play a vital role in improving efficiency and effectiveness. With the help of precision agriculture, you can analyze soil conditions and other related parameters to improve operational efficiency. Not only that, you can also detect the real-time working conditions of connected devices to detect water and nutrient levels.
Smart greenhouse:
In order to make our greenhouses intelligent, the Internet of Things enables weather stations to automatically adjust climate conditions according to specific instructions. These sensors collect and transmit real-time data, which helps to accurately monitor the state of the greenhouse in real time. With the help of sensors, the status of the greenhouse can be monitored via email or SMS alerts. Automatic and smart irrigation is carried out with the help of IoT. These sensors help provide information about pressure, humidity, temperature, and light levels.
Climatic conditions:
Climate plays a very crucial role in agriculture. Inappropriate understanding of the climate has severely deteriorated the quantity and quality of crop production. But IoT solutions enable you to understand real-time weather conditions. Weather station sensors are placed inside and outside the farmland. They collect data from the environment and use them to select crops suitable for growth and maintenance under specific climatic conditions. The entire IoT ecosystem is composed of sensors, which can more accurately detect real-time weather conditions such as humidity, rainfall, and temperature. The sensors used to detect all these parameters can be configured accordingly to meet the requirements of smart farming. These agricultural IoT sensors monitor the condition of crops and the surrounding weather. If any disturbing weather conditions are found, an alert is sent.
Crop management
Another important precision agriculture element is crop management equipment. They can be placed across the field like a weather station. Once established, they can collect data specifically needed for crop planting. It is effectively used to collect all key data such as temperature, leaf water precipitation and overall crop health. Therefore, it becomes convenient to monitor crop growth and find any abnormalities that may damage yield in any way: if they are caught early, they can be prevented.
Agricultural drone
One of the most promising advancements in agricultural science and technology is the introduction of agricultural drones into smart agriculture. These drones are also called unmanned aerial vehicles (unmanned aerial vehicles). Some people even believe that these drones are even more suitable for collecting agricultural data than satellites or airplanes. Not only do they master surveillance capabilities, they can also perform various tasks to replace human efforts. These tasks include preventing infections and pests, planting crops, crop monitoring, agricultural spraying, etc.
Summarize
It can be seen that with the advancement of science and technology, the advantages of the Internet of Things to save costs, rapid response, and remote monitoring have been continuously integrated into modern agriculture. Whether it is planting or animal husbandry, the Internet of Things is indispensable. Modern agriculture led by the Internet of Things will gradually become the mainstream of agriculture.
