Precision Agriculture Science and Technology ISSN:2672-0086(Print) 2713-5632(Online) 정밀농업과학기술

Fruit cultivation in domestic orchards requires significant labor for managing growth and harvesting. However, due to an aging farming population and rising labor costs, the agricultural workforce is steadily decreasing, posing annual difficulties for farmers. It is essential to continuously monitor the crop growth environment in orchards; however, conventional methods often result in excessive fertilization, nutritional deficiencies, and increased management costs due to indiscriminate pesticide spraying. To address these challenges, this study aimed to develop a soil environment monitoring system to enhance efficient orchard management and productivity. Sensor modules capable of measuring soil temperature, humidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH were selected and connected to sensor nodes using RS485 Modbus communication. Data collected from sensor nodes were transmitted to local control units using LoRa wireless communication technology. Solar panels were installed for sustainable power supply, and data measurements and transmissions were scheduled at 1 hour intervals to minimize power consumption. A soil map was generated using the collected data. The results demonstrated the feasibility of automating soil environment monitoring and labor reduction in open field conditions, providing foundational data for implementing fruit tree smart farms in orchard management.