Solar-Powered and IOT-Aided Irrigation System for Small Farm-Scale Operation

Abstract

This article presents a Solar-powered and IOT-aided irrigation system for small farm-scale operation. The solar panel ensures a reliable and cost-efficient power source especially in remotest villages where there is no evidence of grid utility power supply. The system employs soil moisture sensors and a Wi-Fi module connected to a microcontroller for the supervision and control of the water pumping process, creating a connected irrigation solution enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT). This system instantly sends sensor data to the Blynk mobile application, enabling farmers to access and monitor the irrigation system through the app. Furthermore, the incorporation of IoT technology allows for the monitoring of flowrate, battery voltage, reservoir water volume, and soil sample water level. Inverted staircase and carrier-based modulation is used to generate firing pulses for Power MOSFETS switches. This system achieves improved water usage efficiency, streamlining farming operations and ultimately reducing electricity consumption and operational costs by harnessing solar energy. This research is applicable to both small-scale farms and, in the long run, larger agricultural lands.