Intelligent moisture triggered irrigation system (IMTIS)

Conventional irrigation systems that rely on manual operation or fixed scheduling are inefficient and often lead to water wastage and inconsistent plant growth. Soil moisture– based irrigation systems improve efficiency; however, they encounter limitations in outdoor environments, particularly during rainfall, where sensors may inaccurately trigger irrigation despite sufficient environmental moisture. This study introduces the Intelligent Moisture Triggered Irrigation System (IMTIS), an automated irrigation solution integrating a capacitive soil moisture sensor with a rain detection module. The main objective is to enhance water efficiency, reduce wastage, and support sustainable agricultural practices. This project is devised to optimize irrigation efficiency by ensuring that watering occurs only when necessary while preventing operation during rainfall. The system operates by activating a water pump when the soil is dry and no rain is detected, while overriding irrigation when rainfall is present. The methodology involves system design using Arduino-based components, circuit integration, and testing under four different environmental conditions over 20 cycles. The results show that the system achieved 90% accuracy, with 18 successful cycles and 10% of failure where 2 minor errors were due to sensor fluctuations. IMTIS demonstrates improved water conservation, reduced manual labor, and enhanced plant health. The system also presents strong commercial potential due to its low-cost, scalable design suitable for farmers and home gardening applications.