Smart Irrigation Employing Direct Root Watering

Abstract

This paper proposes implementation an automated irrigation system using which the watering is carried out bypassing the top soil and directly irrigating to the root zone of the plant. This system makes use of a soil moisture sensor that monitors the moisture content of the plant’s root zone continuously and compares it with the previously set values as threshold. Monitoring the soil moisture sensor readings, water is supplied only to the root area of the plant. Zigbee modules are used to facilitate the wireless communication of remote sensor with the controller and increase the flexibility of the system. The system design eliminates the loss of water before reaching the root zone that is absorbed by the top soil and makes a system well suitable for dry and drought prone areas.