Arduino Based Soil Acidity Monitoring Bot

Through sms (S.A.M.B)

Robotics

A robotic project
Presented to

Alaminos City National High School

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement in Research II of the Special

Program in SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ENGINEERING (STE)

Submitted by:

Ardy Reyn Casterence Managod

Bon Gabriel Martinez

Lebron Bacurin Cabatic

Lorenz Rapatalo

Maure Melendez

10-RUTHERFORD

Kris Cristhopher Dela Cruz

Robotics Advis er
 Abstract
Soil is a natural medium for the growth and overall health of the plants. Countless

research has been done to determine what factor affects the health of plants. One factor is

unfertile soil; it can be acidic, significantly inhibiting the plant’s growth. To this day,

researchers are still trying to develop a way to improve the overall health of plants to be of

help to our local farmers suffering from lousy harvest.

Acidic soil is a global problem to plant production. Acid toxicity is mainly caused by

a lack of essential nutrients in the soil and excessive toxic metals in the plant root zone. Of

the toxic metals, aluminum (Al) is the most prevalent and most toxic.

A few methods have been established to lessen the soil acidity in the world.

Furthermore, a few instruments or gadgets have been made to check if the soil is acidic, but

these instruments or gadgets are not accessible to all.

Soils can be naturally acidic and can be measured by their pH values. Soil pH will be

used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. The pH is the acidity of material

measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Materials having a pH value lesser than seven is considered

acidic, and greater than seven is considered normal. When the pH value remains seven, then

the material is neutral. The suitable soil for plants will be the neutral soil which has a pH

level of seven.

This robot aims to help those who require suitable soil for planting, especially the

poor farmers and agriculturists.

Our robot is cheap and straightforward, unlike the other gadgets that are complex and

cost thousands of pesos.

RESEARCH PLAN

Name: Ardy Reyn Casterence Managod Category:Robotics & Intelligent Machines

Bon Gabriel Martinez

Lebron Bacurin Cabatic

Lorenz Rapatalo

Maure Melendez

School: Alaminos City National High School

Address: San Jose Drive, Alaminos City Pangasinan

Project Title: Arduino Based Soil Acidity Monitoring Bot Through sms (S.A.M.B)

Project Adviser: Kris Cristhopher C. Dela Cruz

A. RATIONALE

Countless farmers are facing lousy harvest due to an acidic soil greatly affecting the

crops growth. Not only does it affect the country’s food supply, the farmer will also face

financial problems due to the bad harvest. As a country who relies on farmers for food

supply, steps must be done to boost food production with our limited land for farming.

Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of soil. Soil pH is a critical

characteristic used to make informative analyses both qualitative and quantitatively regarding

soil characteristics. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydronium ions

in a solution.

Acidic soil can also affect the soil's nutrient availability, which would gradually affect

the plants living in that specific area. The plants that live in this particular area would have a

plant sickness called the nutrient deficiency. Most of those affected by acidic soils are plants,

crops, and even trees.

Nutrient deficiency may include stunted growth, death of plant tissue, or yellowing of

the leaves caused by a reduced chlorophyll production, a pigment needed for photosynthesis.

Nutrient deficiency can significantly impact agriculture, resulting in reduced crop yield or

reduced plant quality.

B. Statement of the Problem

This project, “Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot (S.A.M.B.)” will seek to answer

the following sub-problem

1. Does the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot work smoothly?

2. Does the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot perform better than the commercial

product in terms of effectiveness?

 3. Does the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot perform better than the commercial

product in terms of cost efficiency?

4. Does the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot perform better than the commercial

product in terms of Simplicity?

C. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The study seeks to determine if the robot works as designed by the researchers. It also

aims to be cheaper and more reliable than the commercial product already available on the

market. The product primarily aims to achieve the following:

1. To determine if the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot works smoothly.

2. To determine if the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot performs better than the

commercial product in terms of effectiveness

3. To determine if the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot performs better than the

commercial product in terms of cost efficiency.

4. To determine if the Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot performs better than the

commercial product in terms of simplicity.

D. HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

This study will be posited with the following hypothesis:

Null Hypothesis
 1. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot does not work smoothly.

2. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot does not perform better than the commercial

product in terms of effectiveness

3. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot cost more than the commercial product in

terms of cost efficiency.

4. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot does not perform better than the commercial

product in terms of simplicity.

Alternative Hypothesis

1. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot works smoothly

2. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot performs better than the commercial product

in terms of effectiveness

3. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot does not cost more than the commercial

product in terms of cost efficiency.

4. The Arduino Based Soil Monitoring Bot performs better than the commercial product

in terms of simplicity.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

The robot is to be constructed at one of the researcher’s houses. The researchers

should also follow safety protocols such as a face mask, face shield, thermal scanning, and

sanitizing.
 The robot parts are to be collected via online shopping rather than going through

stores.

The robot testing would be tested at one of the researcher’s houses using traditional

garden soil for a more accurate result. The robot would be tested at a rice field at Poblacion

Sandoy Street,

Alaminos City, Pangasinan.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Our robot mainly focuses on the acidity of the soil that might affect the growth and

nutrition that the plants need. We are trying to create a robot a cheaper robot that can be

afforded by commoner especially the farmers who are facing financial problems.

Local farmers, this helps the farmers locate a better place to plant crops and other plants. It

also guides the farmers the best time to plant the appropriate crops. Preventing them from

planting in an unsuitable soil causing them to have an unhealthy crop.

Viewers, this gives them further knowledge and helps them innovate other robots. This can

also be a guide if the viewers want to continue the robot that we have created. This will also

give them insights to innovate the robot we have started depending on their needs and

resources.

Agricultural Engineers, it helps them build a simpler robot to measure the soil acidity which

lessens production time and cost.

Agriculturist, helps them find a more appropriate soil greatly increasing the value of the

plants they are culturing; thus, increasing their harvest.

Gardeners, this also helps them find them the correct quality of soil appropriate for their

intended plants.
Technicians, this also gives them additional knowledge and helps them innovate and modify

similar robots of this kind.

RESEARCH METHOD

I. Research Design

The researchers will use the Comparative Research Design to determine if that SAMB

beats that of the commercial product in terms of durability, availability and price.

II. Materials and Instruments

The components that will be used for the making of SAMB can be easily purchased

online except the Soil pH measurement sensor.

Arduino Uno

Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on easy-to-use hardware

and software. The Arduino Uno will be an important component of the robot to execute the

programs created by the researcher.

NPK Sensor

The soil nitrogen phosphorus and potassium sensor (NPK sensor) the name itself tells

that the instrument is used for detecting contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in

the soil. The sensor will be used to determine the soil’s acidity.

GSM Module

A GSM module is a chip or circuit used to establish communication between a mobile

device or computing machine and GSM or GRPS system. This will be used to send a text

message to the user.

Jumper wires

Jumper wires are wires that can have connector pins at each end depending on the

version. This will allow the researcher two points to each other without the need of soldering.

Jumper wires are usually connected to a breadboard or any other prototyping tools.
Power Bank

A power bank will be used as a primary source of power for the robot.

III. Procedures

A. Collection of Materials

The materials to be used are bought online or at a store near the researcher’s location.

The Arduino kit and pH sensor will be purchased at Lazada. The power supply will be

obtained at one of the researcher’s house.

B. Assembling of Materials

C. Safety Precaution

Safety precaution will be followed to avoid harm during the making of the project. An adult

should be on standby for assistance and guidance. The researcher should be aware of the

possible risk that might occur during the assembling. Proper gear will be used in handling

materials that may possess harm to the researchers.

D. Coding

E. Field analysis of Soil samples

F. Data Gathering

G. Statistical Analysis

H. Level of Significance