The Design and Construction of a Moisture Control System with for an Andrographis Paniculate

Abstract

The objective of this research is to study and develop an automatic drip irrigation system for Andrographis paniculata (Fah Talai Jone). This system can control the operation of the water pump and measure soil moisture, ensuring consistent levels. The irrigation control system is managed through communication between two Arduino microcontrollers. The soil moisture sensor was tested against five different soil samples, each with varying moisture levels. The testing process was divided into two parts. The first part involved testing the system and collecting data in a hydroponic cabinet for 20 days, with 24-hour system performance monitoring. The second part involved testing the system and collecting data in an actual plot for 14 days, also with 24-hour system performance monitoring. The field experiment was divided into four plots: three plots with controlled soil moisture levels of 24%, 22%, and 20%, respectively, and one plot using conventional irrigation. The plant height and number of leaves were compared among the plots. The results confirmed that the system functioned correctly. The analysis showed that the plot with the highest average increase in plant height was Plot 2, with an average of 15.6 cm, while the plot with the highest average number of leaves was also Plot 2, with an average of 13.9 leaves. The average soil moisture level in this plot was 22%.