Design and Construction of Soil Moisture Measurement System

CONTENTSCONTENTS

• Chapter 1: Introduction

• Chapter 2: Literature Review

• Chapter 3: Methodology

• Chapter 4: Results and Discussions

• Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Soil moisture is an important component in the atmospheric water cycle, both on a small agricultural scale and in large-scale modelling of land/atmosphere interaction.

Fig. 1.1:Soil Moisture Measurement System

Measuring soil moisture detects if there is a water shortage that can reduce yields or if there is excessive water application that can result in water logging or leaching of nitrates below the root zone.

The soil moisture status requires periodic measurements in the field, from which one can project when the next irrigation should occur and what depth of water should be applied.

Chapter one

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

To study different soil moisture measurement systems.

To know about Arduino soil moisture sensor.

To design and construct soil moisture measurement device using Arduino soil moisture sensor.

Objectives:

Chapter one

LITERATURE REVIEWLITERATURE REVIEW

In 1956 Haise et al. presents one of the most complete instructions of soil measurement. A metal cylinder (Fig 2.1) with a diameter of 30 cm or more and a height of about 40 cm is driven into the soil, using a driving plate set on top of the infiltro meter and a heavy hammer to measure soil moisture .

After Haise at 1956, Data recording form for ring infiltro meter tests were used to measure soil moisture.

In 1982, Walker and Skogerboe introduced Ponding methods to measure soil moisture..

Fig 2.1: Field measurement system

Chapter two

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY

Fig 3.1: Block Diagram of the Soil Moisture Measurement System

Block Diagram:

Chapter three

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGYPrinciple of operation of Soil Moisture Measurement System:

At first, we will collect different types of soil as sample for testing.

Then we will insert the moisture sensor in the soil.

The sensor will sense and the Arduino will work as the controller of the whole procedure and the result will be displayed in the LCD display.

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGY

Fig 3.2: Circuit Diagram of Soil Moisture Measurement System

Circuit Diagram:

1. Arduino

2. Soil Moisture Sensor

3. 3X4 matrix keypad

4. LCD Display

5. Buzzer

6. Breadboard

7. Power supply

COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

CHAPTER THREEChapter three

METHODOLOGYMETHODOLOGYMajor Components

Fig. 3.3: Soil Moisture Sensor Fig. 3.4: Arduino

Chapter three

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSResults

Fig 4.1:Relationships between soil types and total available soil moisture holding capacity, field capacity and wilting point

The total available water, TAW, for plant use in the root zone is commonly defined as the range of soil moisture held at a negative apparent pressure of 0.1 to 0.33 bar (a soil moisture level called 'field capacity') and 15 bars (called the 'permanent wilting point'). The TAW will vary from 25 cm/m for silty loams to as low as 6 cm/m for sandy soils. Some typical values of TAW, field capacity, permanent wetting point and miscellaneous features have been given in various texts. A typical summary is shown in Fig 4.1.

Chapter four

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSResults

Different types of soil Moisture measured

Manually

Moisture Measured by

our device

Clay Soil    

Sandy Soil    

Silt Soil    

Table 4.1 Data Collection and Result

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSApplications

AgricultureTo help farmers manage their irrigation systems more

efficiently. Landscape irrigation

In urban and suburban areas, landscape and residential lawns are using soil moisture sensors and measurement device to interface with an irrigation controller. Simple sensors for gardeners

For checking whether plants have sufficient moisture to thrive that do not require a power source.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSRESULTS AND DISCUSSIONSAdvantages and disadvantages

Advantages-

Prevent over-irrigation We can measure soil moisture easily by using this device. Can measure the moisture of the soil accurately.

Disadvantages- The equipment needed for the construction are costly The testing process is very time consuming.

Conclusion

As the technology is going on developing day by day, we prefer things to be done automatically and in the same way our projects reduces the work to mankind.

Soil moisture monitors how water is moving through soils, with a precision and vividness that most irrigators have never seen before.

The results obtained from the measurement have shown that the system performance is quite reliable and accurate.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Chapter five

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSCONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONSRecommendations

The system worked quite fine but some parts of the secondary aim was left considering the fact of us being not expert in programming.

Due to programming complication, different resistance value can’t be set for different plants to provide different level of moisture which can be the future development for the device built.

Any Queries ? ? ?