PROTOTYPE OF HORTICULTURAL CROP MONITORING SYSTEM USING TEMPERATURE SENSORS VIA IOT-BASED THINGSBOARD

Horticultural crops require well-maintained environmental conditions, particularly temperature, soil moisture, and nutrient content, to achieve optimal growth. Manual monitoring of these factors is often inefficient, as it is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and unable to provide real-time information. This research developed a prototype of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system utilizing the ThingsBoard platform to display sensor data in real time. The system is controlled by a NodeMCU ESP32 microcontroller connected to a DHT22 sensor (air temperature and humidity), a soil moisture sensor (soil humidity), a PIR sensor (pest detection), and an MQ-137 sensor (ammonia/NH₃ concentration). Data collected from the sensors are processed by the microcontroller and transmitted to the ThingsBoard dashboard via a Wi-Fi connection. Automation features are implemented, such as activating a fan when the temperature exceeds 30°C, turning on a lamp when the temperature drops below 27°C, running a water pump when the soil is dry, switching on a pesticide pump when pests are detected, and activating a fertilizer sprayer when the NH₃ level is low. The testing results show that the system is capable of monitoring plant conditions in real time, responding according to predefined parameters, and being accessed via both PC and smartphone. The application of this system has the potential to improve the efficiency of holticultural cultivation, reduce pest-related damage, and assist farmers in maintaining stable growing conditions, thereby optimizing crop yields.