Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Pavan P, Pranitha M, Shirisha N, Ganga Bhavani R, Samshikha S, Jawaharlal D and Charith Kumar K

Abstract:
Soil moisture plays a crucial role in agricultural and environmental studies. This research aimed to assess the performance and reliability of three locally available soil moisture sensors REES52, Capacitive soil moisture sensor V1.2, and V2.0 by comparing their measurements with the oven dry method of soil moisture estimation. A low-cost Arduino Uno microcontroller was utilized to interface the sensors for data acquisition and processing. The sensors were calibrated using traditional methods, and the coefficient of determination (R2) values obtained were 0.849, 0.826, and 0.833 for the REE S52, Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor V1.2, and V2.0, respectively. These values indicate a reasonably strong correlation. The calibration process ensured that the sensor’s output values were adjusted to accurately represent the actual soil moisture content. To validate the sensors' performance, a field experiment was conducted in representative soil conditions. Soil moisture readings from the sensors were compared with those obtained from the traditional oven dry method. Preliminary results suggest that the locally available soil moisture sensors, when appropriately calibrated, exhibit promising performance in estimating soil moisture content. The Arduino Uno interface provided a cost-effective and efficient solution for integrating the sensors into the data acquisition system. These findings contribute to the development and utilization of low-cost soil moisture sensing technologies, facilitating better water management practices and enhancing agricultural productivity. Further research is recommended to validate these results in diverse soil types and environmental conditions.