A Robust Wireless Sensor Network for Real-Time Soil Moisture Analysis in Precision Farming

Abstract

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is designed to monitor soil moisture in real-time in precision farming, as demonstrated in this paper. This system enables farmers to make informed decisions regarding irrigation, water usage, and crop yield through the integration of advanced sensors and communication protocols. WSN architecture, design, and functionality, including node deployment, data transmission protocols, and sensor integration, are examined. Based on the results, the proposed system offers an ideal solution for large-scale agricultural monitoring, as it provides real-time soil moisture data with minimal power consumption. This system significantly improves data accuracy, scalability, and network stability, as demonstrated through extensive simulations and practical experiments conducted under various conditions. Our proposed system effectively addresses several critical challenges prevalent in agricultural Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), including enhanced energy efficiency, robust and reliable data transmission, and adaptive sampling techniques specifically designed for dynamic and unpredictable field environments. The network incorporates advanced, low-power capacitive soil moisture sensors integrated seamlessly with a novel hybrid routing protocol. This innovative protocol strategically combines both cluster-based routing and direct node-to-sink transmission approaches, thereby optimizing communication pathways, reducing overall power consumption, and maintaining stable network operation under fluctuating agricultural conditions. This integrated solution ensures accurate real-time monitoring, enabling improved decision-making and resource allocation in precision agriculture applications.