INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL (FMPE-404)

PROJECT REPORT

AUTOMATIC PLANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Submitted by:
KHIZER HAYYAT (21-ARID-1415)
MASHHOOD TARIQ (21-ARID1416)
MOIZ UR REHMAN (21-ARID-1418)
MUHAMMAD HASEEB (21-ARID-1421)
Submitted to:
ENGR.UBAID UR REHMAN

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

PMAS ARID AGRICULTURE UNIVERSITY RAWALPINDI

May 2023

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Table of contents:

CHAPTER NO TITLE PAGE NO

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
LIST OF FIGURES 2
ABSTACT 3
1 INTRODUCTION. 4
1.1 OVERVIEW
1.2 AIM OF PROJECT
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT
2 BACKGROUND 6
2.1 EXISTING SYSTEM
2.2 PROPOSED SYSTEM
3 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 7
COMPONENTS USED IN DESIGNING
3.1 HARDWARE REQUIREMENT
3.1.1 ARDUINO UNO
3.1.2 SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR
3.1.3 RELAY
3.1.4 DC MOTOR PUMP

4 DESIGN 10
4.1 FLOW CHART
4.2 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
4.3 ADVANTAGES OF AUTOMATIC PLANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM
4.4 APPLICATIONS OF AUTOMATIC PLANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM
4.5 LIMITATIONS OF AUTOMATIC PLANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM
5 SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION 12
5.1 METHODOLOGY
5.2 PROJECT PLAN
5.3 WORKING
6 CONCLUSIONS AND REFRENCES 14
6.1 CONCLUSIONS
6.2 REFERENCES
7 APPENDIX 16
7.1 INTRODUCTION TO ARDUINO CODE AND PROGRAMMING
7.2 ARDUINO CODE

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Tabulation of figures:

Sr.No. Figure Page

number
3.1.1 Arduino UNO. 7
3.1.2 soil moisture sensor 8
3.1.3. Rely module. 8
3.1.4. DC motor pump. 9
4.1 Flow chart 10
4.2 Circuit diagram 10
5.3.1 Working mode 13

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ABSTRACT

This project on “Automatic Plant Irrigation System” is intended to create an automated irrigation
mechanism which turns the pumping motor ON and OFF by detecting the dampness/moisture
content of the soil. In the domain of farming, utilization of appropriate means of irrigation is
significant. The benefit of employing these techniques is to decrease human interference and still
make certain appropriate irrigation.
The proposed model consists of three stages: Firstly, sensing the land’s moisture levels. Second
stage is the determination of its status: dry or wet. The last and third stage is Motor control.
This project proposes the development of Automatic Plant Irrigation System (APIS) capable of
detecting loss of moisture in soil using the soil moisture sensor. Specifically, APIS utilizes the Soil
Moisture Sensor to detect water content level in soil and give appropriate responses to the system
based on detected condition. Using this response, APIS determines whether or not the land needs
to be irrigated. In the current version, APIS is capable of detecting and irrigating a small area that
can be considered to be under a single pump’s coverage. Implemented using ARDUINO UNO,
APIS uses live input data to determine the conditions. APIS represents our most basic step towards
automated farming to improve turnover and reduce the impact of draught or loss due to irrigation
issues.

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 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1OVERVIEW
An automatic plant watering system revolutionizes the way we care for our plants, providing a
convenient and efficient solution to the challenges faced in the past with manual watering. In the
past, plant owners had to rely on their memory and availability to water their plants regularly, often
leading to inconsistent watering schedules and potentially detrimental effects on plant health. This
manual approach required constant monitoring, especially during periods of absence or busy
schedules, making it difficult to maintain optimal moisture levels and prevent both under and over-
watering.
However, with the advent of automatic plant watering systems, these challenges have been
significantly mitigated. These systems utilize various components and technologies to ensure that
plants receive the right amount of water at the right time, regardless of the owner’s availability or
memory. Typically, these systems consist of a combination of sensors, timers, and irrigation
mechanisms.
Sensors play a crucial role in an automatic plant watering system by monitoring soil moisture
levels, ambient temperature, and humidity. They provide real-time data, allowing the system to
assess the plant’s needs accurately. If the moisture level falls below a predetermined threshold, the
system triggers the watering process.
Timers are another essential component that allows users to program watering schedules based on
specific plant requirements. This feature is especially beneficial for plants with different watering
needs or for those in different stages of growth. By setting customized watering intervals, plant
owners can ensure that each plant receives adequate hydration without overburdening or
neglecting any specific plant.
The irrigation mechanisms in automatic plant watering systems can vary depending on the
system’s complexity and design. Simple systems may utilize drip irrigation, where water is slowly
released near the plant’s roots, minimizing water wastage and maximizing absorption. More
advanced systems can incorporate adjustable sprayers or misters that provide a fine spray of water,
simulating natural rainfall.
One significant advantage of automatic plant watering systems is their ability to conserve water.
Unlike manual watering methods, these systems deliver water precisely where it is needed,
reducing wastage and ensuring efficient usage. Additionally, by maintaining consistent moisture
levels, these systems help prevent overwatering, which can lead to root rot and other water-related
issues.
Overall, automatic plant watering systems have transformed the way we care for our plants. They
provide a reliable and convenient solution to the challenges of manual watering, offering consistent
hydration based on real-time data and customized schedules. With their ability to conserve water

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and promote healthier plant growth, these systems have become invaluable tools for both casual
gardeners and professional horticulturists, simplifying plant care and enhancing overall plant
health.

1.2 AIM OF THE PROJECT

The motivation for this project came from the countries where economy is based on agriculture
and the climatic conditions lead to lack of rains & scarcity of water. Our country mostly depends
on agriculture. The farmers working in the farm lands are solely dependent on the rains and bore
wells for irrigation of the land. Even if the farm land has a water-pump, manual intervention by
farmers is required to turn the pump on/off whenever needed.
The project aim Is to detect the dryness in soil using sensors and provide water to the plants
appropriately. This project helps to maintain the plants quite easily. In this project we are detecting
soil moisture and need for Irrigation.

The Aim of our project is to minimize this manual intervention by the farmer. Automated Irrigation
system will serve the following purposes:
As there is no un-planned usage of water, a lot of water is saved from being wasted.
The irrigation is done only when there is not enough moisture in the soil and the sensors decide
when the pump should be turned on/off. This saves a lot time for the farmers. This also gives much
needed rest to the farmers, as they don’t have to go and turn the pump on/off manually.

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Nowadays, despite being an agricultural country, the number of people who die of hunger is still
quite high. Access to food seems to be difficult, as price and quantity of food is still beyond the
capability of the lower middle class and lower class. Irrigation induced Crop failure is a major
cause of crop loss every year, and in the age of water crises, this has been elevated to great levels.
In order to keep up with increasing demand, farmers are required to increase crop efficiency, by
rapidly advancing technologies. In order to handle Irrigation issues, this system has been devised
and implemented. Usually, farmers need large scale manpower to irrigate large lands
simultaneously. However Automatic Plant Irrigation System (APIS) is an automatic system that
facilitates automated irrigation of lands simultaneously, upon need.

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 CHAPTER 2
BACKGROUND
2.1 EXISTING SYSTEM
In the existing automatic plant watering system, an Arduino UNO board is utilized for control
and monitoring. It connects to sensors like soil moisture sensors to measure soil moisture levels
and triggers a water pump accordingly. The Arduino UNO also incorporates timing functionality
for scheduling watering intervals. It allows for customization and additional features such as
adjusting settings based on plant types and interfacing with other components. Overall, the
Arduino UNO provides a flexible and efficient platform for automating the plant watering
process.

2.2 PROPOSED SYSTEM

The proposed automatic plant watering system improves traditional methods using sensors to
detect soil moisture levels and irrigate plants only when needed. It optimizes water usage,
prevents overwatering, and simplifies plant care.

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 CHAPTER 3
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
3.1 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
The hardware components required for the project are listed as follows: --

S.NO. COMPONENT TYPE COMPONENT

DESCRIPTION
1. Arduino Arduino UNO
2. Soil moisture sensor -
3. Relay module 5v
4. Motor water pump 5v

Table 3.1. List of components

3.1.1 Arduino
Arduino Uno is a popular microcontroller board used for creating electronic projects. It
serves as the control unit in APIS (Automatic Plant Watering System), enabling
communication with sensors and controlling the water pump based on soil moisture readings.
Its versatility and community support make it an excellent choice for integrating hardware
components and automating plant watering.

Fig 3.1.2 Arduino UNO R3

3.1.2. SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR

Moisture sensors are essential tools for monitoring and managing water levels in various
applications. These sensors provide accurate and real-time measurements of moisture content in

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soil, helping optimize irrigation and prevent overwatering. Moisture sensors are also used in
building materials to detect and prevent moisture-related issues like mold and rot. With their
versatility and efficiency, moisture sensors play a crucial role in maintaining optimal moisture
conditions for various industries.

Fig.3.1.2 Soil moisture sensor

3.1.3. RELAY MODULE

The Rely module is designed to enhance communication and understanding. Rely ensures data
security and privacy, keeping sensitive information p With its efficiency and user-friendly
features, Rely simplifies collaborative efforts. It promotes trust by fostering transparent and
reliable interactions. Through its intuitive interface, users can exchange information seamlessly.

Fig 3.1.3 Relay module of 5v

3.1.4. DC MOTOR PUMP

A DC motor is any of a class of rotary electrical machines that converts direct current electrical
power into mechanical power.
A DC motor pump is essentially a DC Motor that is used to circulate water. The internal structure
is the same. The DC motor is encased in a waterproof plastic casing and the shaft is used to drive

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an external arm that pumps water. The Pump requires a 5V supply, which can be easily provided
by batteries or AC supply.

Fig.3.1.4. DC Motor pump

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 CHAPTER 4
SYSTEM DESIGN
4.1 FLOW DIAGRAM

Fig 4.1 Flow diagram of automatic plant watering system

4.2 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Fig 4.2 Circuit diagram

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4.3 ADVANTAGES

The main advantage of this project is that it has faster execution when compared to manual execution of
the process.

 It Is simple, portable and provides high performance.

 It consumes less power
 Dryness can be easily detected in soil.
 Permits a non- experience to do the work of an expert.
 Improves productivity by increasing work output and improving efficiency.
 Saves time in accomplishing specific objective.
 This system ensures that the plants do not endure from the strain or stress of less and over
watering.
 This system saves labour cost and water up to 70%. The working of this irrigation system covers
over 40 crops spanning across 500 acres.

4.4 APPLICATIONS OF PROJECT

 Home gardening
 Greenhouses
 Urban farming
 Indoor plants
 Commercial agriculture
 Public gardens and parks
 Landscaping projects
 Green roofs
 Botanical gardens and conservatories
 Hydroponics and aquaponics

4.5 LIMITATIONS
The system requires two different power supplies. While implementing in large fields, industrial supply
can be used to run the motor. In small gardens this may seem like a large wastage. Needs a large amount
of sensing equipment for very large irrigation areas. The system is not 100% reliable. Unexpected factors
can cause errors, and it may in some cases cause loss. Despite being good, it needs to be manually
checked and maintained once every few weeks.

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 Chapter.5
. System Implementation

5.1 METHODOLOGY
Implementation of the project required the design of the system developed in the design phase of the
project to be carefully implemented.
The extensive implementation of automated systems in agriculture has proven to successfully reduce cost.
The operation of automated agricultural system could potentially revolutionize the irrigation process and
the way it has impacted the commercial & industrial sectors. Thus, this project has been an expert or non-
expert-system-based method of field monitoring for detecting dryness & treatment of the field. The
prototype system food and beverage industry has the potential to be useful for the industry, seeking ways
to make agriculture cost effective. Furthermore, the ultimate beneficiaries of the project are the farmers
who are the backbone of an agricultural economy.

5.2 PROJECT PLAN:

Moiz (Project Manager)
Mashood (Hardware Development)
Khizer (Software Development) Moiz (Prototyping and Testing) Under the leadership of Moiz, the team
successfully completed the automatic plantWatering system project. Mashood excelled in hardware
development, Khizer in software development, and Haseeb in prototyping and testing. Their collaborative
efforts resulted in a fully functional system that effectively monitors soil moisture levels and provides
plants with adequate hydration.

5.3 WORKING:
The automatic plant watering system operates by using an Arduino UNO microcontroller, a moisture
sensor, a 5V water pump, a 5V relay module, and a 9V power supply. The moisture sensor is placed in the
plant’s soil to measure the moisture level. The Arduino UNO reads the analog signal from the moisture
sensor to determine the moisture level. If the moisture level falls below a preset threshold, indicating that
the soil is dry, the Arduino triggers the relay module. The relay module acts as a switch to control the 5V
water pump. When the relay module is activated, it allows the power from the 9V supply to flow through
the water pump, turning it on. The water pump pumps water from a container or reservoir to the plant’s
soil, providing it with the necessary moisture. Once the moisture level rises above the threshold, the
Arduino turns off the relay module, thereby deactivating the water pump. This process ensures that the
plant receives water only when needed, automating the watering process and maintaining optimal soil
moisture levels for plant growth.

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5.3.1. WORKING MODEL STRUCTURE

Fig.5.3.1. Working model

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 CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSION AND REFRENCES
6.1 CONCLUSIONS
Irrigation becomes easy, accurate and practical with the idea above shared and can be implemented in
agricultural fields in future to promote agriculture to next level. The output from moisture sensor and
level system plays major role in producing the output.
Thus the “AUTOMATIC PLANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM” (APIS) has been designed and tested
successfully. It has been developed by integrating all the features of all the hardware components used.
Presence of every module has been reasoned above and placed carefully in order to contribute to the best
working of the unit. The system has been tested to function automatically, and to the best of its ability.
The moisture sensors measure the moisture level (water content) of the different plants. If the moisture
level is found to be below the desired level, the moisture sensor sends the signal to the operational
amplifier which triggers the DC Motor pump to turn ON and supply the water to respective field area.
When the desired moisture level is reached, the system halts on its own and the DC Motor pump is turned
OFF. Thus, the functionality of the entire system has been tested thoroughly and it is said to function
successfully.

6.2 REFERENCES

[1] Klute, A. (ed.), 1986: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical a nd Mineralogical
Methods. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 1188 pp.
[2] Knight, J.H., 1992: Sensitivity of time domain reflectometry measurements to lateral
Variations in soil water content. Water Resources Research, 28, pp. 2345–2352.
[3] Magagi, R.D., Kerr, Y.H., 1997. Retrieval of soil moisture and vegetation
Characteristics by use of ERS-1 wind scatterometer over arid and semi-arid areas. Journal
Of Hydrology 188-189, 361–384.
[4] Marthaler, H.P., W. Vogelsanger, F. Richard and J.P. Wierenga,1983: A pressure
Transducer for field tensiometers. SoilScience Society of America Journal, 47, pp. 624–
627.
[5] Attema, Evert, Pierre Bargellini, Peter Edwards, Guido Levrini, SveinLokas, Ludwig
Moeller, BetlemRosich-Tell, et al 2007. Sentinel-1 – the radar mission for GMES

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Operational land and sea services. ESA Bulletin 131: 10-17.
[6] Bircher, S., Skou, N., Jensen, K.H., Walker, J.P., & Rasmussen, L.(2011). A soil
Moisture and temperature network forSMOS validation in Western Denmark. Hydrol.
Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss.,8, 9961-10006.
[6] ADVERSE IMPACTS OF DROUGHT ON CROPS AND CROP PRODUCERS IN
THE WEST James Johnson and Vince Smith Montana State University Department of
Agricultural Economics and Economics

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 CHAPTER.7
. APPENDIX

7.1 Introduction to Arduino Programming:

Arduino programming involves writing code to control Arduino boards, which are microcontroller-based
development boards. The code is written in the Arduino programming language, which is based on
C/C++. Arduino boards are widely used in electronic projects to interact with sensors, actuators, and other
electronic components.

7.2 Arduino Code :

Int water; //random variable
Void setup() {
pinMode(3,OUTPUT); //output pin for relay board, this will sent signal to the relay
pinMode(6,INPUT); //input pin coming from soil sensor
}
Void loop() {
Water = digitalRead(6); // reading the coming signal from the soil sensor
If(water == HIGH) // if water level is full then cut the relay
{
digitalWrite(3,LOW); // low is to cut the relay
}
Else
{
digitalWrite(3,HIGH); //high to continue proving signal and water supply
}
Delay(400);
}

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