IoT-based controlled environment system for optimized mushroom production

Most mushroom farming in Malaysia is carried out on a small scale and depends largely on manual labour. Any changes in temperature, humidity, air quality and light often affect mushroom growth. The temperature must not be too hot or too cold. Humidity must be high enough to keep the growing blocks moist and the light exposure to the mushrooms block must be appropriate to support the formation of mushroom caps. It all these conditions are not within the suitable ranges, it will slow down the mushroom growth, uneven yield among blocks or no yield at all. This study presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of a low-cost Internet of Things (IoT)–based controlled environment system to enhance mushroom cultivation. It integrates environmental sensors with an ESP32 microcontroller to enable real-time monitoring and regulation of temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels. Experiments were conducted under four conditions: automated controlled environment, manual spraying, dark enclosure, and natural open condition. Results demonstrate that the IoT-controlled environment consistently produced the highest mushroom yield and the most stable growth conditions, outperforming manual and uncontrolled setups. Dark and minimally regulated environments resulted in negligible or zero yield. The findings confirm that automated environmental control improves productivity, reduces variability, and minimizes crop loss, particularly for resource-limited small-scale farmers. This study highlights the potential of affordable IoT solutions in supporting sustainable agricultural practices and smart farming adoption in developing contexts.