Prototype of automated irrigation system improves the yield of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Riobamba-Ecuador using wireless network sensors-WSN and 6LoWPAN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to optimize irrigation water in the potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv INIAP Natividad) crop to ensure the maximum productivity of the crop, using WSN according to the agro-ecological conditions of the area, which have allowed to monitor environmental parameters in potato cultivation and have ensured an efficient control system in irrigation. The WSN irrigation network was implemented using four Arduino modules configured with 6LoWPAN; two modules controlled the solenoid valves together with FC-28 sensors, which capture soil moisture, and through the DHT11 sensor the temperature and relative humidity. The fourth module functioned as a gateway through which information is sent to a database developed in PostgreSQL. Additionally, a Web server (Apache) was configured to visualize the control of the drip irrigation system developed in php, JAVA. It was concluded that the T1 (automated irrigation), which had achieved an evidence with a higher productivity in the potato cultivation in 19.2%, with a water consumption of 20% less than the T2 (manual irrigation). This evidences a clear saving of the hydric resource and an optimum development in the potato crop when comparing it with traditional irrigation system.

Keywords

• Next generation networking
• IP networks
• Internet of Things
• Telecommunication network
• Wireless LAN