Automated Plant Watering System Using Arduino

1. Activity Name:

Automated Plant Watering System Using Arduino

2. Materials Required:

a)     Arduino Uno/Nano

b)     Soil Moisture Sensor

c)      Water Pump (5V or 12V)

d)     Relay Module (5V for pump control)

e)     Jumper Wires

f)      Power Supply (Battery or Adapter)

g)     Water Tubing & Reservoir

3. Explanation:

This project is an automated irrigation system that detects soil moisture levels and controls a water pump accordingly. The soil moisture sensor measures the water content in the soil, and if it is dry, the Arduino activates the pump via a relay module to supply water. Once the soil is sufficiently moist, the system turns off the pump to prevent overwatering.

Working Principle:

1. The soil moisture sensor detects the soil’s moisture level.
2. The sensor sends data to the Arduino, which reads the moisture percentage.
3. If the moisture level is below the threshold, the relay is activated, turning ON the water pump to supply water.
4. Once the soil reaches the required moisture level, the pump is turned OFF.

4. Connections:

Component	Arduino Pin	Other Connections
Soil Moisture Sensor VCC	5V	-
Soil Moisture Sensor GND	GND	-
Soil Moisture Sensor Signal	A0	-
Relay Module VCC	5V	-
Relay Module GND	GND	-
Relay IN (Control Pin)	D7	-
Water Pump +	Relay NO (Normally Open)	-
Water Pump -	Power Supply GND	-
Relay COM	Power Supply 12V	-

5. Arduino Code:

#define sensorPin A0  // Soil moisture sensor input

#define relayPin 7    // Relay control pin

 

void setup() {

  pinMode(sensorPin, INPUT);

  pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT);

  Serial.begin(9600);

}

 

void loop() {

  int moisture = analogRead(sensorPin);  // Read moisture level

  moisture = map(moisture, 0, 1023, 100, 0);  // Convert to percentage

 

  Serial.print("Soil Moisture: ");

  Serial.print(moisture);

  Serial.println("%");

 

  if (moisture < 40) {  // If soil is dry

    digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW);  // Turn ON pump

    Serial.println("Watering the plant...");

  } else {

    digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH);  // Turn OFF pump

    Serial.println("Soil is wet, pump OFF");

  }

 

  delay(2000);  // Wait for 2 seconds

}

6. Conclusion:

               This automated plant watering system helps maintain optimal soil moisture levels without manual intervention. It is useful for home gardens, greenhouses, and smart farming applications. Students learned sensor integration, relay control, and automation principles, enhancing their knowledge in IoT-based smart agriculture.