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FERTISYSTEM: AN IOT-BASED SMART FERTIGATION SYSTEM

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology major in Information Security
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
University of Southeastern Philippines
Tagum-Mabini Campus

CARMILA A. GUILLEN
REJOICE MAGBUTONG
RAMEL E. MONTERA

March 2023
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APPROVAL SHEET

The Thesis/Capstone Project Study title FERTISYSTEM: AN IOT-

BASED SMART FERTIGATION SYSTEM prepared and submitted by Carmila
A. Guillen, Rejoice Magbutong, and Ramel E. Montera has been examined and is
recommended for approval and acceptance.
RECOMMENDED:
ARCHIE D. CENAS
Adviser

APPROVED by the Panel of Examiners on Oral Examination with grade

of _____.

REY M. DE LEON
Chairperson

DHALLY A. ILLISAN EDITHA L. HEBRON

Member Member

ACCEPTED and APPROVED in partial fulfillment of the requirements of

the degree of Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.

JEANETTE G. PEDRIÑA
Officer-In-Charge, CTET
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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DEDICATION
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University Of Southeastern Philippines

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Tagum City

Declaration of Originality

We, Carmila A. Guillen, Rejoice Magbutong, and Ramel E. Montera declare

that this research undertaking is original. We further declare that this endeavor
was accomplished by us.

CARMILA A. GUILLEN
REJOICE MAGBUTONG
RAMEL E. MONTERA
Researchers

March 2023
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ABSTRACT

The FertiSystem is an automated plant fertilization

system that aims to provide optimal levels of
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK)
nutrients to crops. It uses an NPK sensor, soil
moisture sensor, and ultrasonic sensor to monitor
NPK values in soil, soil moisture, and water and
fertilizer levels in the reservoir, respectively. The
system displays real-time data through a mobile
application and sends notifications to the user when
water or fertilizer levels are running low. The study
conducted showed that the FertiSystem was able to
maintain NPK levels within the optimal range and
keep soil moisture at the desired level. The study
recommends using a farmbed size of 3m x 5m for
each crop, testing the FertiSystem on different plant
species, enhancing the mobile application by
including charts and graphs, providing an NPK
sensor for each crop, ensuring proper maintenance
of the system, and considering the cost-
effectiveness of the system. Overall, the
FertiSystem shows promise in revolutionizing plant
fertilization practices by providing an efficient and
automated approach to crop management.

Keywords: Fertigation, NPK Sensor, Soil Moisture

Sensor, Ultrasonic Sensor
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
Title Page i
Approval Sheet ii
Acknowledgement iii
Dedication iv
Declaration of Originality v
Abstract vi
Table of Contents vii
List of Tables ix
List of Figures x

CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 1
Project Context 1
Purpose and Description 3
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Objectives of the Study 4

Scope and Limitation of the Study 4
2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6
Related Literature 6
Related System 18
Technical Background 24

Software Requirements
25

Hardware Requirements
26

User Classification
26
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System Architecture
27

3 METHODOLOGY
28

System and Development Methodology

28

4 RESULTS & DISCUSSION

6

Test Cases
77

5 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION

82

Conclusions
82

Recommendations
84

Implementation Plans
85
REFERENCES
89

APPENDICES

A. Related Source Codes 93

B. Sample Input/ Output

161

C. User’s Manual
164

D. Certificates
171

CURRICULUM VITAE
174
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LIST OF TABLES

Table No Title Page

2.1 Comparison to the Related System 23

2.2 Software Requirements for Development of I-Pest 25

2.3 Hardware Requirements 25

2.4 Software Requirements 26

2.5 User Classification 26

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LIST OF FIGURES
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

Project Context

Fertilization and irrigation are important aspects for plant growth. Fertilizers
are applied in order to replace the vital nutrients in the soil after it has exhausted.
However, application of fertilizer should be thought of carefully before commencing.
The structure and content of the soil should be considered in selecting the type of
fertilizer, method of application to use and when to apply in order to avoid energy and
finance loss, and possible pollution on surrounding bodies of water.

Chemical fertilizers have helped humans in sustaining food supply by

increasing farm yield, however its overuse have caused hazards that risks human
health and its surrounding environment.

Overuse of chemical fertilizers has several impacts on our natural resources. It

causes environmental pollution, decreased food quality, resistance development in
weeds, diseases, insects, soil degradation, micronutrient deficiency in soil and toxicity
to different beneficial living organisms present above and below the soil surface
(Chandini, Kumar, & Om, 2019). Fertigation allow farmers to realize potential yield
with higher water and fertilizer efficiency allowing lesser pollution and with more
productivity (Sureshkumar et al., 2017).

In the Philippines, according to Tirado and Bedoya (2008), between 1961 and
2005, the use of chemical fertilizers increased by 1000%. There are methods of
application that also have several burdens on farmers as well as the surrounding
environment. Excessive use of chemical fertilizer causes land degradation and soil
fertility loss, in addition it can cause water pollution that directly or indirectly affects
human health.
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According to a study conducted by Levkovitch et al. (2003), frequent

fertigation improved consumption of nutrients through two processes, “continuous
replenishment of nutrients in the depletion zone at the vicinity of root interface and
enhanced transport of dissolved nutrients by mass flow, due to the higher averaged
water content in the medium”.

To reach their full genetic potential, all growing plants require 17 essential
elements. 14 of these 17 are absorbed by plants through soil, while the remaining three
are absorbed by plants through air and water. The "Big 3" primary nutrients in
commercial fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK). In plant
nutrition, each of these essential nutrients is vital, according to The Fertilizer Institute
– News Article: Fertilizer 101: The big 3 - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Jones (2004) emphasized that nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium have great
effects in plant growth and development. Their deficiencies or excesses result in
marked effects on the growth and yield of crops. Nitrogen is a chlorophyll component,
and it promotes vegetative growth and green coloration of foliage. Phosphorus is
essential for photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage, cell division, and maturation.
Plant metabolism, protein synthesis, and the development of chlorophyll all require a
high level of potassium to function effectively (Remison, 2005).

With fertigation, there is no longer a problem in terms of manual labor and

water consumption, however there is a need to focus on proper supply of nutrients in
the field, maintaining soil quality and the varying levels of nutrients to be supplied
during development (Rivera et al., 2020). In the system developed by NextPCB
(2021), a certain dose of NPK fertilizer is already set for consumption and does not
utilize nutrient sensing sensors for flexible nutrient dosage based on the nutrients
already present in the soil.

These scenarios motivated the researchers to develop a more efficient method

of utilizing fertigation for urban farming using the internet of things. The researchers
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aim to develop a fertigation system using NPK sensors and drip irrigation which is
monitored through mobile application.

Purpose and Description

FertiSystem is a system that is intended for urban farmers in an urban setting.

The system assists users in their urban farming with the irrigation and fertigation
based on soil moisture and current NPK levels. By integrating the internet of things,
the users can monitor the system using their smartphone anywhere and anytime as
long as it is connected to the internet.

This study would help users when it comes to tending their urban crops
without even being present while also presenting accurate information about the status
of the system to minimize the plant not being able to flower or fruit and wither.

The system has a microcontroller that collects and processes the data from
sensors to decide when to fertigate or irrigate that is sent to the cloud and is retrieved
and displayed on the mobile application for the user to view. The system reservoir has
an ultrasonic sensor that will detect fertilizer level and water level that will notify the
user if the reservoir is running low. Users can view their activity history and export it.
Users can also view the current system activities.

The purpose of this project is to provide a convenient way for users to tend
their urban crops without being there. The project will focus on delivering these
features that will provide the needs of the user to produce good yields and healthy
crops.
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Objective of the Study

This study aims to develop an IoT-Based Smart Fertigation System.
Specifically, this project aims to:

1. Monitor the following:

a. NPK values in soil using NPK Sensor;
b. Soil Moisture using Soil Moisture Sensor; and
c. Water and Fertilizer level in the reservoir using Ultrasonic
Sensor.
2. Provide NPK nutrients through fertigation to the following supported
crops:
a. Tomato;
b. Eggplant; or
c. Cabbage.
3. Display the following through mobile application:
a. Current Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium values in the soil;
b. Soil Moisture value; and
c. System activities specifically the water pumps and fertilizer
pumps.
4. Notify user if the water and fertilizer are running low through the
mobile application
5. Keep history of the following activities and values:
a. Date and time of activity;
b. Either fertigation or irrigation; and
c. Initial NPK and soil moisture values.
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Scope and Limitation

This study is aimed to develop a smart fertigation system that utilizes the
smartphone, a microcontroller and the internet of things to aid users in tending to their
urban crops. The microcontroller will be the main processing unit of the system by
collecting from the sensors such as the NPK sensor, moisture sensor, and ultrasonic
sensor. The system will have one (1) NPK sensor as it has a 20-meter radius and one
moisture sensor for the batch of crops planted on the field. It will also make decisions
based on certain parameters when it will irrigate or fertigate. Furthermore, the system
only supports one type of plant for each batch on the field and will not support
multiple plant types that are supported by the system because of different NPK
requirements for each plant type. The user can view these data retrieved from the
cloud and as well as the activity history of the system.

The system is most suitable for urban settings like backyard gardens
specifically in a garden bed and is not suitable for large-scale use. The system is
designed for users who are interested and engaged in soft urban farming with the aim
of getting good yield from their crops. In addition, the mobile application is only
available in the android operating system. This system only supports tomato, eggplant
and cabbage crops for NPK based fertigation. For that reason, the developers target
one year of completing the study.
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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND SYSTEM

Related Literature
More than half of the world’s population is now living in urban areas, cities
gain more recognition from researches, policies, investments and migration thus
migrants aim for cities because it is where their human capital earns them the most
(Duncan & Popp, 2017). With that, agricultural land lost steadily increases every
passing day in order to give way to urban expansion (Pandey & Seto, 2015).
Consequently, according to Lovell (2010), there is a need for sustainable land use in
order to balance the needs of the growing population by promoting urban agriculture.

A study conducted in Cebu assessed the current state of urban agriculture in

the area. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the respondents showed interest in urban
agriculture mainly for food resources, generating income, relaxing and experiencing
calmness (Cortes et al., 2022).

According to Hergert, Nielsen, & Margheim (2019), Fertilizer and irrigation

have always been an important part of plant growth. It is believed that the concept of
fertilizer was used as far back as 8,000 years ago in the form of manure. The
researchers concluded that the concept of manure as fertilizer occur when early
farmers noticed an increase in yield in areas where animals gather and natural dung
accumulates.

Organic fertilizers are harmless in nature although there are various drawbacks
such as low nutrient content and slow decomposition compared to chemical fertilizers
(Si Ho Han et al., 2019). Due to the slow decomposition of organic fertilizers,
chemical fertilizers are made in which the nutrients are already extracted from organic
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sources and nutrients are readily available for plant consumption.

However, according to Sinfield, Fagerman, & Folic (2010), with the increasing
cost of chemical fertilizer and growing concerns of chemical run-off into sources of
water, a need for precision agriculture is emphasized. To increase plant yield while
minimizing fertilizer application and consumption, many researchers attempted to
develop on-the-go nutrient sensing apparatus. NPK Sensors are used to detect the
deficient nutrient in the soil thus dispensing of the fertilizer can be controlled (Ramane
et. al., 2015).

Monitoring NPK Values

Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are essential nutrients for the
plants’ development, flowering, fruiting, and overall health. Maintaining balance
between these nutrients are important factors in plant growth and yield. Undersupply
of these nutrients can cause nutrient deficiency symptoms to show on plants, while
excessive nutrient intake can cause poor growth due to toxicity (Tilman et al., 2011).

Yet excessive use of these chemical fertilizers can lead to environmental

pollution and possible risk to human health. There are different methods used in
applying fertilizers such as broadcasting, banding and pop-up. These types of
applications are beneficial at some point however it has various disadvantages.

According to Mahler (2001), broadcast topdress application leaves more

fertilizer available for weeds to grow and often doesn’t reach the root system of the
plant. Broadcast incorporated through plowing distributes the fertilizer too deeply for
the young seedling roots to reach and also requires more fertilizer than other broadcast
applications. Other broadcasts incorporated application methods such as through
plow-chisel and disking also stimulates weed growth.

On the contrary, banding requires more time in planting and more expensive
equipment and equipment modification while pop-up application increases nutrient
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loss and also requires more than one application to meet the nutrient needs of the
plant.

Fertigation of Crops

On the other hand, fertigation allows smaller portions of fertilizer than

traditional methods of application but also allows fertilizer to be directly accessed by
plants from their water stream (Chojnacka et al., 2020).

A study in India shows that fertigation is eco-friendly since it avoids leakage of

nutrients. It was also found that vegetables, due to their continuous need of water
supply and nutrients, are more responsive to fertigation at giving higher yield and
good quality. Even though there is a need for higher initial cost when starting the
fertigation, it is more economical on a long-term basis than other conventional
methods of applying fertilizer (Jat et al., 2011).

Another research in India grew rice during the dry season of Coimbatore with
elevated CO2 and temperature to imitate future climate under drip fertigation and
conventional methods. Drip Fertigation had more advantage in yield than conventional
method under elevated CO2 conditions which means that yield in conventional method
of irrigation and fertilizer application will likely be more affected by an increase in
temperature and CO2 levels in future climates than drip fertigation (Vanitha, 2020).

Bandyopadhyay et al., (2020) pointed out that fertigation is beneficial for

specific plants like coconut in South Asia, which shows that drip fertigation along
with other doses of fertilizer increases productivity, efficiency of nutrients and
production of energy in coconut.

In the Philippines, a new automation concept was presented by Rivera,

Paduman, Uon and Chua (2020). In the new automation concept an NPK sensor, soil
moisture and water level sensor are utilized to drip, irrigate and fertigate the sugarcane
crop. Their simulation showed that with the new automation concept, it is possible to
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supply the exact amount of water and fertilizer required by the crop. An economic
analysis determined that the proposed system can generate positive profit compared to
manual irrigation.

Supported Crops

In the Philippines, eggplant is the most important vegetable crop in terms of

hectare and percentage volume while tomato is the second most important (Borromeo,
2012). In Davao City, Eggplant and Tomatoes are one of the most produced crops
among a sample of 118 farmers while cabbage is the most important leaf vegetable
(Sarmiento et al., 2013; Borromeo, 2012). This study will then focus on eggplant,
tomato and cabbage which are common garden crops in the locality.

Tomatoes
Pre-Planting
Prior to planting a dose of 40 kg/ha of phosphorus will be applied
(Holmer & Schnitzler, 1997).

Fertigation Schedule

Tomatoes bear fruit 3-4 months after sowing. Nitrogen (N) will be
given at 100 kg/ha and Potassium (K) at 240 kg/ha. Fertigation will start and
will continue twice a week for 13 weeks with increasing concentration when
approaching the fruit blooming stage and declining upon reaching maturity
(Holmer & Schnitzler, 1997; Synder, 2019).

Eggplant
Fertigation Schedule
The recommended dose of NPK is 250 kg/ha of N, 90 kg/ha of P and
250 kg/ha of K which will be fertigated three times a week starting from the
2nd week until 14th week after transplanting. The doses will be given in
increasing percent until the start of fruition stage and will be reduced upon
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reaching the end of fruition stage (Feleafel & Mirdad, 2013).

Cabbage
Fertigation Schedule
The recommended dose of NPK is 150 kg/ha of N, 100 kg/ha of P and
125 kg/ha of K which will be fertigated weekly within a 7 days interval during
the cropping period (Nair et al., 2020).

Related Systems

IoT-Based Precision Irrigation System for Eggplant and Tomato

This IoT-Based Precision Irrigation System developed by Palconit et al. (2020)

utilizes soil moisture sensor, humidity sensor, temperature sensor and water level
sensor to irrigate precise amounts of water needed by the crops. It monitors soil
moisture, temperature and humidity as a basis to the activities of the system. It also
has a mobile application developed by Blynk to receive data from the field.
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Figure 2.1 IoT-Based Precision Irrigation System for Eggplant and Tomato

Figure 2.1 shows the dashboard of this system. This system mainly deals with
automated irrigation while FertiSystem focuses on balancing the nutrients in the soil
through nutrient sensing and fertigation.

IoT-Based Fertilizer System for Smart Agriculture

Iot-Based Fertilizer System is an automated fertigation system for indoor

gardens developed by NextPCB (2021). This fertigation system allows continuous
water supply to the plants along with a certain dose of fertilizer. Using a mobile
phone, the user can turn on and off the system remotely, it also displays information
such as moisture level, humidity and temperature and remotely increases or decreases
water flow.

Figure 2.2 IoT-Based Fertilizer System for Smart Agriculture

Figure 2.2 shows the final device for the IoT-based Fertilizer System for Smart
Agriculture. Unlike this smart fertigation system, FertiSystem allows specific nutrient
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intake for plants using the NPK sensor. FertiSystem informs the users of what specific
nutrient is lacking in the soil and fertigates only the nutrient needed by the soil. The
only visible sensor on the plant is the soil moisture sensor. The system also has no
fertilizer and water level indication system that also informs if running low.

Implementation of Automated Organic Fertigation System by Measuring the

Plant Parameters

This automated fertigation system by Kokilamani et. al., (2018) utilizes a pH

sensor, moisture sensor, and temperature sensor to monitor the needs of a plant. The
inputs from different sensors are passed to the programmed arduino board, after
analyzing the inputs the system will decide the amount of fertilizer and water to be
supplied to the plants. A signal will then be passed to a valve that controls the amount
of fertilizer to be distributed according to the data passed by the arduino.

Figure 2.3 Implementation of Automated Organic Fertigation System by Measuring

the Plant Parameters

Figure 2.3 shows the block diagram of this system. The researchers of this
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system recommended the use of mobile application to help monitor the whole system
which will be carried out in the FertiSystem as well as the use of NPK sensor, a more
developed sensor to measure specific nutrients in the soil.

Table 2.1 Comparison to the Related System

Features Implementation IoT Based IoT-Based FertiSystem:

of Automated Fertilizer Precision An IoT-
Organic System for Irrigation Based Smart
Fertigation Smart System for Fertigation
System by Agriculture Eggplant and System
Measuring the Tomato
Plant
Parameters

Uses NPK X X X ✓
sensor to
monitor
nutrient on
soil

Mobile X ✓ ✓ ✓
Application
to monitor
and control
the system

Fertigation ✓ ✓ X ✓

Irrigation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Table 2.1 shows the comparison between the features of FertiSystem and other
related studies in the past years, this matrix will serve as a guide in developing our
system.

Technical Background

The system uses a microcontroller to receive data from the sensors located in
the soil of the crops and process the data to reach a certain objective or status. This
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system uses an NPK sensor to detect the nutrients and soil moisture sensor to detect
the hydration of the soil. This data is processed in a microcontroller that acts as a mini-
computer, specifically the ESP8266 to process the data and to send the data to the
cloud and retrieved on the mobile application. This data is stored in a cloud platform
for storage of the data.

Table 2.2 Software Requirements for the development of FertiSystem

Software Description
Arduino IDE An IDE used to create the scripts for the
microcontroller
Adobe Photoshop An Image editor used to design the
front-end of the application
Android Studio An IDE used to create the scripts for the
software application of system
MySQL The database used by the system

In order for the whole system to run, the following software and hardware
specifications are recommended at the minimum.

Table 2.3 Hardware Requirements

Hardware Requirements Recommended
ESP32 or ESP8266 A Wi-Fi enabled microcontroller that is
used to process and connect to the
network and to the cloud.
Drip Irrigation Kit with Soil Moisture Pre-assembled irrigation kits used to run
Sensor water throughout the area.
NPK Sensor Used to detect specific nutrients in the
soil.
Ultrasonic Sensor Used to detect levels of fertilizer and
water.
Solenoid valve Used to control the flow of water and
fertilizer.
Jumper cables Used to connect to network cabling.
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Relay module Used to turn on or off the solenoid valve

Table 2.4 User Classification

People Description
User/Urban Farmer Connect to the same network as the
fertigation system to monitor the status
of the plants.

System Architecture

This section shows how the system will be processed between the application
and user.

Figure 2.4 System Architecture of FertiSystem

The figure 2.4 shows the sensors and other hardware components on the field
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sending and storing data over the cloud which will be accessed by the software
application and interpreted and viewed by the user.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

This section examines the procedures for developing the system. These
methods will be used by the developers to ensure the accuracy of the information and
processes used in the study.

Developers of the FertiSystem implemented the SCRUM approach to software

development, which is a step forward from the commonly used iterative/incremental
object-oriented development cycle (ORDC) as shown in Figure 3.1. This technique
allows the team to assess actual working software more rapidly and frequently, from
two to four weeks to a month. The developers can also see actual working software
and decide whether to release it as is or continue to improve it for a future iteration.
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Figure 3.1 The Scrum framework

Figure 3.1 depicts the project management process, which is typically used in
software development. The team consists of three members: the Project Manager or
Scrum Master, the programmer, and the designer. These team members are multi-
functional and self-organizing people.

Functional Requirements
The table below shows the functional requirements for the system. In the
priority column, the following shorthands are used:
M – Mandatory requirements (something the system must do)

D – Desirable requirements (something the system preferably should do)

O – Optional requirements (something the system may do)

Table 3.1 Functional Requirements of FertiSystem

No Requirement Requirements Description Priority

01 FS_01 User receives data from sensors M
02 FS_02 User can view the dashboard M
03 FS_03 Users can select the current batch of crops to M
view
04 FS_04 Notification through mobile application M
05 FS_05 Display and Export Activity Logs D

Sprint Planning
The developers have established a plan to develop an IoT-Based smart
fertigation system that implements drip irrigation and fertigation and includes a soil
moisture sensor for measuring or estimating the amount of water in the soil, an NPK
sensor to balance the nutrients in the soil via nutrient sensing, and an ultrasonic sensor
for water level. As suggested by the panelists and subsequently evaluated by the
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developers, the project will solely focus on three urban crops: eggplant, tomato, and
cabbage.

Sprint Backlog
With the aim of completing the tasks, the developers created a prioritized list
for the requirements of the system. The scrum master divided the work among the
team members, prioritizing the IoT device first, followed by the mobile application
and documentation. The final tasks to be completed will be additional tasks and
changes.

Sprint Review
Following the completion of the FertiSystem, the developers will choose a
product backlog that will serve as a sprint goal. Developers will then discuss the tasks
from the project that were completed during the sprint. In order to avoid system
deficiencies during implementation, the team must provide a functional IoT device
and mobile application with a database that will run smoothly with little to no errors
and malfunctions.

Requirements Modeling
In this phase, the developers identified the user’s need in the system. It would
help deliver the feature of the system to ensure that it will reach the requirements of
this application.
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Figure 3.2 Requirements Modeling for FertiSystem

The figure shown above, shows how the user and system will interact using the
application. The user will view the dashboard information on the mobile application
that is received from the cloud. The user can also register a plant type.

Context Data Flow Diagram

This section provides a FertiSystem contextual map. Data flows in one
direction from the NPK, soil moisture sensor and ultrasonic sensor to the
microcontroller. The data from the microcontroller is then converted and sent to the
cloud, where the system retrieves and displays information to the user.

Figure 3.3 Context Data Flow Diagram

Figure 3.3 shows an overview of FertiSystem and how the external entities
interact. After developing the FertiSystem, the user will be able to view and monitor
the information from the dashboard as well as being able to enter the new plant type.
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Use Case Diagram

In this section, the use case diagram presents the functionality of the system
and operations in the perspective of the user and defines what should take place inside
the system.

Figure 3.4 Use Case Diagram for FertiSystem

Figure 3.4 uses actors that represent the user. It shows how the user will
interact with the system once the hardware is set up, authenticated with the software
that is installed on the smartphone. The user can then see the dashboard of the garden
and its current status. The user can also register new crops.
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Table 3.2 View Dashboard Use Case Description

Use Case Name: View Dashboard

Scenario: Let the user see the current status of the
system and nutrients in soil.
Triggering Event: After the user opens the application and
establishes connection with the system
through the internet.
Brief Description: The actor can now view the status of
his/her garden and the system.
Actors: User/Urban Farmer
Related User: None
Case:
Stakeholders: Actor: to view the result
Pre-Conditions: Must be connected to the internet.
Post-Conditions:
Flow of Activities: Actor
1. Actor installs the application
2. Actor views the dashboard of the
system
Actor System
1. Actor installed application on to 1.2 System request for a username
android device and password
2. Actor authenticates with system 2.2 System communicates with cloud
on internet 3.3 System receive data from sensors
3. Actors views the dashboard
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Level 1 Data Flow Diagram

This section contains the level 1 DFD; it demonstrates how an application or
system is divided into sub-systems or processes. It simply breaks down the main
process into a series of sub-process.

Figure 3.5 Level 1 Data Flow Diagram

Figure 3.5 shows how the data is being processed. It explains how the system
works and how the data flows. Level 1 data flow diagram provides a more detailed
depiction of the flow of the system.
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Physical Data Flow Diagram

This section describes how the system will process, retrieve and store data with
the user involved assuming that the sensor and hardware are already deployed and set
up.

Figure 3.6 Physical Data Model

The figure 3.6 shows how the system will process or operate that represents the
manual procedures and program modules for ensuring the successful completion of the
process.
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Activity Diagram
The diagram below shows the whole activity of the system from the initial
deployment of sensors and hardware on the soil to the viewing of the dashboard using
the mobile application. The system, once deployed on the soil, will actively check for
the moisture and NPK levels of the soil for the plants and automatically calculate the
needed action if a certain value has been met for the irrigation or fertigation to occur.
If an activity is triggered, the system will upload the data into the cloud.
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Figure 3.7 Activity Diagram for the system

The green oval represents the starting point of the system which is the initial
deployment of the hardware on the soil. The blue rectangle represents activities and
the user icon represents the start of the mobile application for viewing the dashboard
and the red gradient represents the end of the mobile application. The arrows provide
the flow and transition between the activities. The orange diamond represents the
decision between activities.

System Flow Chart

This section shows how the system handles the data flow and decisions made
in this system.
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Figure 3.8 System Flow Chart of FertiSystem

Figure 3.4 shows the flow chart of data in the application. It shows how the
data flows and is handled by the processes in the system.

Figure 3.4 shows the flow chart of data in the application. It shows how the
data flows and is handled by the processes in the system.

Entity Relationship Diagram

The Entity Relationship Diagram or ERD is a graphical representation of
entities and their relationship to each other with regard to the organization of data
within the cloud.

Figure 3.11 Entity Relationship Diagram for FertiSystem

Figure 3.11 shows the relationship of each entity of FertiSystem in the cloud
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storage.
Cost and Benefit Analysis
The developers use a few hardware and software for the development of the
functionality of the system. For documentation, Google Documents was first used for
the collaboration feature because of the pandemic and for the final output Microsoft
Word is used. The diagrams and charts are created using the LucidChart web
application and we specifically chose this web app because it can provide
collaboration through the internet for the developers. The mock-ups were produced
using Adobe XD and the logo was created using Adobe Photoshop. Android Studio
and Arduino IDE is used for the development of the system and application. A laptop
where most of the software mentioned is installed or accessed as well as the coding of
the application. An android phone is used for the implementation of the application of
the system.
 3
0

Prototype
This section shows the initial front-end design and wiring diagram of the
system.

(a) (b)
 3
1

(c)

Figure 3.9: a) The login user interface of the system; b) The dashboard of the
application; c) The activity logs of the system

Figure 3.9 shows the initial front-end design of the mobile application. Figure
3.9 (a) provides a user interface for logging in. The user will enter a username and
password, and can choose to sign in with Google based on their preferences. Figure
3.9 (b) presents a dashboard for data monitoring (b). The user can choose which plant
to monitor that involves data from the soil moisture sensor, NPK sensor, and
ultrasonic sensor. The dashboard also displays the water level of the tank, which is
monitored over the course of days, weeks, and even months. Figure 3.9 (c) shows
activity logs for keeping track of all the activities performed by the system. It holds
details such as the date and time, NPK levels, soil moisture value, and whether
irrigation or fertigation was executed.
 3
2

Figure 3.10 Initial wiring diagram of FertiSystem

Figure 3.10 shows the initial FertiSystem wiring diagram, which consists of
the ESP8266 microcontroller, a soil moisture sensor for measuring soil moisture level,
an ultrasonic sensor for water level indication, and an NPK sensor for nutrient sensing
supported with MAX485 Modbus Module. The relay module will function as a switch
that can be turned on or off, allowing current to flow or not, as well as the 12V
solenoid valve, which is connected to a 12V DC battery and can shut off or allow fluid
to flow.
 33
28

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter contains a comprehensive analysis of the results obtained from

unit testing, integration testing, and functional testing of various FertiSystem
components. Tables, graphs, and charts are utilized to provide a clear and organized
presentation of the data gathered, and their interpretation is provided in the discussion
section.

Figure 4.1 The dashboard of the FertiSystem Mobile Application

 34

Figure 4.1 shows the dashboard of the FertiSystem mobile application where it
can display various information, such as the NPK content and levels, selected plant,
date, time, week number, and the state of the water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium pumps. The user can archive data of their choice for future reference.
Additionally, the application includes a "New Batch" feature that enables users to add
a new batch of plants to be tested. This feature allows for efficient management of
multiple plant batches, enabling users to monitor and compare results between
different plant groups.

Figure 4.2 Reservoir Water and Fertilizer Refill Notification

Figure 4.2 shows that the level of phosphorus in the fertilizer mix has fallen
below the recommended range for the crop being grown, which could potentially
affect the growth and health of the plants. The notification is designed to alert the user
 35

to this issue so that they can take action to refill the reservoir with the appropriate
fertilizer mix and prevent any negative impact on the crop.

Unit Testing
During the unit testing phase, each component of the system was tested
individually to ensure that they are functioning properly. The NPK sensor was tested
to check its accuracy in detecting the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels in the
soil. The soil moisture sensor was also tested to determine its accuracy in measuring
the moisture content of the soil. The ultrasonic sensor was also tested to detect the
water and fertilizer levels in the reservoir. The results of the unit testing are shown in
Table 1 below.
Component Test Description Test Result
Tested
NPK Sensor Checked for functionality in detecting nitrogen, Passed
phosphorus, and potassium levels in the soil

Soil Moisture Checked for functionality in measuring moisture Passed

Sensor content of the soil
Ultrasonic Checked for accuracy in detecting water and Passed
Sensor fertilizer levels in the reservoir
Water Pump Checked if water pump is working properly Passed

Fertilizer Checked if fertilizer dispenser is working Passed

Dispenser properly

Table 4.1 Results of Unit Testing phase for FertiSystem

Table 4. 1 shows the results of the unit testing phase of the FertiSystem, which
was conducted to verify the proper functioning of each system component. Each
component was tested individually to ensure its accuracy in measuring the necessary
parameters. The NPK sensor was tested for its ability to detect nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium levels in the soil, while the soil moisture sensor was tested for its
accuracy in measuring the moisture content of the soil. The ultrasonic sensor was also
 36

tested for its ability to detect the water and fertilizer levels in the reservoir. The results
of the unit testing demonstrate that the system components are functioning properly.

Integration Testing
After the unit testing phase, the components were integrated and tested as a
system. During the integration testing, the system was checked for its ability to collect
and process data from the sensors and perform the necessary actions based on the
collected data. The results of the integration testing are shown in Table 2 below.

Table 4.2 Results of Integration Testing for Fertisystem

Component Interaction
NPK Sensor and Microcontroller
Soil Moisture Sensor and
Microcontroller
Ultrasonic Sensor and
Microcontroller
Microcontroller and Cloud
Cloud and Mobile Application
Test Result
NPK values are transmitted correctly to the
microcontroller.
Soil moisture values are correctly transmitted
to the microcontroller.
The microcontroller is capable of receiving
signals indicating the levels of fertilizer and
water.
Data is successfully transmitted from the
microcontroller to the cloud.
Data is retrieved correctly from the cloud and
displayed on the mobile application.

Table 4 exhibits the results of the testing conducted to determine the accuracy
of the data transmission between the different components of the system. The testing
focused on evaluating the transmission of NPK values and soil moisture values
between the NPK sensor and microcontroller and the soil moisture sensor and
microcontroller, respectively. Furthermore, the testing verified the proper transmission
of water and fertilizer levels from the ultrasonic sensor to the microcontroller.
Moreover, the testing assessed the correct transmission of data from the
microcontroller to the cloud and the accurate retrieval of data from the cloud to be
displayed on the mobile application.
 37

Functional Testing
During the functional testing phase, the system was tested to determine its
effectiveness in providing fertigation and irrigation to the eggplant. The system was
tested for its ability to maintain the appropriate moisture and NPK levels of the soil
and to notify the user if the water or fertilizer levels in the reservoir are running low.
To establish the thresholds for NPK sensor, the guidelines set by the Philippine
Department of Agriculture (DA) for vegetable crops were followed. According to the
data, the ideal NPK threshold values for silt soil for eggplant are 40–60 mg/kg of
nitrogen, 20–30 mg/kg of phosphorus, and 30–50 mg/kg of potassium. The
recommended values were based on soil analysis and research studies conducted on
vegetable crops, including eggplant, in the Philippines (Department of Agriculture,
2016).
The following test parameters were used in this study:
 Crop: Eggplant
 Soil type: Silt soil
 Duration of test: 1 week
 Threshold for irrigation trigger:
 Soil Moisture level: < 40%
 Threshold for fertilization trigger:
 Nitrogen: <40 mg/kg
 Phosphorus: <20 mg/kg
 Potassium: <30 mg/kg

Table 4.2 Results of Functional Testing for FertiSystem

Day Soil N P K Fertilization Irrigation
No. Moisture (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg)

1 32% 52 24 62 No Yes (soil

moisture <
40%)
 38

3 39% 50 23 62 No Yes (soil

moisture <
40%)
6 35% 47 21 60 No Yes (soil
moisture <
40%)
7 40% 46 21 60 No No

9 38% 44 20 58 No Yes (soil

moisture <
40%)
11 55% 41 19 58 Yes No
(phosphorus
<20 mg/kg)
14 46% 39 20 57 Yes No
(nitrogen<
40mg/kg)

Table 4.2 shows the results of functional testing for the FertiSystem over a
period of 14 days. The table includes data on soil moisture levels, as well as the levels
of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) in the soil. The table also
indicates whether fertilization and irrigation were performed on each day of testing.
Notably, the table shows a frequent change in the Nitrogen levels throughout
the testing period. This can be attributed to the fact that the early stages of eggplant
growth require a significant amount of Nitrogen, as compared to Potassium and
Phosphorus. This finding is supported by previous studies, such as that conducted by
de la Cruz et al. (2013), which reported that Nitrogen is essential for the vegetative
growth of eggplants.
Moreover, there was a sudden change in soil moisture levels on day 11, which
can be attributed to rainfall. It is important to note that the testing was conducted 3
weeks after the eggplant seedlings were planted, and soil moisture sensor was added to
the soil during this time. Despite the fact that the soil moisture sensor was only
installed two days after the eggplants were planted, the data for NPK content included
were taken on the same day.
 39

It is noteworthy to mention that the fertilization process was carried out based
on the minimum requirements of the FertiSystem. This implies that the NPK levels in
the soil were maintained at the recommended threshold levels for eggplant as
prescribed by the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
Additionally, the ability of the system to maintain the appropriate moisture and
NPK levels of the soil was assessed, and it was determined that the system was able to
maintain the soil moisture content within the desired range. The presented results
demonstrate that the Fertisystem is effective in fulfilling its intended purpose of
providing appropriate fertigation and irrigation to the eggplant.
 40

TEST CASES
Test Case 1
In this test, the accuracy of the NPK readings will be evaluated. The aim of this
test is to determine if the system is able to measure the NPK levels in the soil.
The following test parameters were used in this study:
 Crop: Eggplant
 Duration of test: 1 week

Table 4.2 Functionality Test of the FertiSystem

Test ID Test Description Result
FT1 Test the ability of the system to monitor the NPK Passed
values in soil and provide fertigation for
eggplants
FT2 Test the ability of the system to monitor the soil Passed
moisture level and provide irrigation for
eggplants
FT3 Test the ability of the system to monitor the water Passed
and fertilizer levels in the reservoir and notify the
user if it is low
FT4 Test the ability of the mobile application to Passed
display the current NPK values, soil moisture
level, and system activities
FT5 Test the ability of the mobile application to Passed
display the history of activities and values

Table 4.2 summarizes the results of the functionality testing performed for the
FertiSystem, which aimed to evaluate its ability to monitor and provide the necessary
 41

nutrients and irrigation for eggplants. The test involved the use of various parameters,
including crop type (eggplant) and test duration (1 week).

Test Case 2
In this test, the ability of the FertiSystem to provide irrigation at appropriate
intervals will be evaluated. The test will measure the moisture content of the soil
before and after the irrigation cycle to ensure that the system is providing adequate
water without over-saturating the soil.
The following parameters were used:
 Crop: Eggplant
 Duration of test: 2 weeks

Table 4.3 Verification of Irrigation Timing Test Results

Test ID Test Description Result
VT1 Test the ability of the system to provide Passed
appropriate irrigation intervals for eggplants

VT2 Test the ability of the system to maintain a Passed

consistent moisture level in the soil

Table 4.3 summarizes the results of the Verification of Irrigation Timing Test.
The test verified the ability of the system to provide appropriate irrigation intervals
and maintain a consistent moisture level in the soil.

Test Case 3
This test will assess the fertilizer dispensing precision of the FertiSystem. The
aim of this test is to determine if the system is able to dispense the correct amount of
fertilizer based on the NPK readings.
The following parameters were used:
 Crop: Eggplant
 42

 Duration of test: 2 weeks

Table 4.4 Fertilizer Dispensing Accuracy Test

Test ID Test Description Result
FD1 Test the ability of the system to dispense the Passed
correct amount of fertilizer for eggplants based on
NPK readings
FD2 Test the ability of the system to dispense the Passed
correct type of fertilizer for the specific crop
based on NPK readings

Table 4.4 summarizes the results of the Fertilizer Dispensing Accuracy Test
for the FertiSystem. This test aims to assess the ability of the system to dispense the
correct amount and type of fertilizer for a specific crop based on its NPK readings.

Test Case 4
In this test, the ability of the system to notify the user when the water or
fertilizer level in the reservoir is low will be evaluated. The test will simulate a low
water or fertilizer level and verify that the system provides a notification to the user.
The following parameters were used:
 Crop: Eggplant
 Duration of test: 2 weeks

Table 4.5 Reservoir Water and Fertilizer Refill Notification Test Results
Test ID Test Description Result
RN1 Test the ability of the system to notify the user Passed
when the water level in the reservoir is low

RN2 Test the ability of the system to notify the user Passed
when the fertilizer level in the reservoir is low
 43

Table 4.5 provides the results of the tests conducted to evaluate the ability of
the system to notify the user when the water or fertilizer level in the reservoir is low.
28
The test simulates low levels of water or fertilizer and verifies that the system sends a
notification to the user. The table summarizes the test ID, test description, and test
result.
CHAPTER V
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

During the course of the development of FertiSystem, the proponents compiled

its objectives as follows: (1) monitoring of NPK values in soil through the use of an
NPK Sensor, soil moisture through a Soil Moisture Sensor, and water and fertilizer
levels in the reservoir through an Ultrasonic Sensor; (2) provision of NPK nutrients
via fertigation to eggplant; (3) display of real-time nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium values in the soil, soil moisture values, and system activities specifically
related to water pumps and fertilizer pumps through a mobile application; (4)
notification of the user through the mobile application if water and fertilizer levels are
low; and (5) recording of relevant data, such as date and time of activity, fertigation or
irrigation, and initial NPK and soil moisture values.

The SCRUM methodology demonstrated its value in quickly identifying and

resolving issues during the testing phase. The strategy gave the testing procedure a
clear structure, enabling the team to quickly identify flaws and monitor their progress.

To summarize, the study demonstrated that the FertiSystem successfully

maintained the optimal NPK levels in soil and achieved the desired soil moisture level.
Furthermore, the mobile application displayed real-time NPK values, soil moisture,
and system activities, while also providing notifications to the user in the event of low
water and fertilizer levels. Additionally, the system recorded pertinent activities and
 44

values, including the date and time of fertigation or irrigation and the initial NPK and
soil moisture values.

Recommendation

Based on the results of the study, several recommendations are proposed to

enhance the FertiSystem:
1. Utilize a farmbed size of 3m x 5m for each crop to ensure that the FertiSystem
can be effectively implemented.

2. Further testing of the FertiSystem on the remaining crops, namely tomato and
cabbage, is recommended to validate its effectiveness in different plant
species.

3. Enhance the mobile application by including charts and graphs to make it

easier for users to interpret and analyze the data provided by the system.

4. Consider utilizing an NPK sensor for each crop to provide more accurate and
stable data readings.

5. Conduct further research and development to optimize the FertiSystem's

control algorithm for more precise and efficient nutrient delivery to the crops.

6. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the economic feasibility of

implementing the FertiSystem on a larger scale, taking into account the initial
investment, maintenance costs, and potential increase in crop yield and quality.

7. Explore the possibility of integrating the FertiSystem with other smart farming
technologies, such as automated pest detection and control systems, to create a
comprehensive precision agriculture system.

8. Consider incorporating weather forecasts into the FertiSystem's algorithm to

adjust the amount and timing of fertilizer and water application based on
expected weather conditions.
 45

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 49

APPENDICIES

APPENDIX A

RELEVANT SOURCE CODE

 50

APPENDIX B

SAMPLE INPUT/OUTPUT
 51

APPENDIX C

USER’S MANUAL
 52

APPENDIX D

CERTIFICATES
 53

University Of Southeastern Philippines

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY

CERTIFICATION

To whom it may concern:

This is to certify that the manuscript of Carmila A. Guillen, Rejoice Magbutong,

Ramel E. Montera entitled “FERTISYSTEM: AN IOT-BASED SMART
FERTIGATION SYSTEM” has been checked and edited by the undersigned.

This certification is issued on _______________.

______________________
Grammarian
 54

CURRICULUM VITAE