EFFICIENCY OF SOME DIGITAL SOIL MOISTURE EQUIPMENT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF IRRIGATION NEEDS OF TOMATO (SOLANIUM LYCOPERSICUM) IN AKURE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The efficiency of Arduino microcontroller board in the assessment of the optimum soil moisture status for irrigation needs of tomato in Akure (7° 15’ N, 5° 12’ E) was investigated from November 2016 to February 2017. The experimental design was a randomized complete block replicated three times with four treatments consisting of Arduino microcontroller board, VG-meter 200, Pascal soil moisture meter and the gravimetric soil moisture determination method. The Arduino microcontroller board was coupled with Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) base shield that was joined through cables, to hygrometer sensor. A computer coded instruction to determine optimal soil moisture level was uploaded onto the Arduino board. The Arduino hygrometer moisture sensor was inserted into the soil while the sensors of the VG-Meter 200, Pascal soil moisture meter were also inserted into the soil in the respective plots. The gravimetric soil moisture determination method, entailed taking soil samples to the laboratory for soil moisture determination. Tomato seeds UC82B variety were raised in the nursery and transplanted at four weeks to the field and plots mulched with wood shavings. The total volume of water added in gravimetric plot was 80%, 80% and 100% higher than in VG-Meter 200, Pascal soil moisture meter and Arduino plots respectively even though the tomato yield value of 20.5t/ha was obtained in Arduino microcontroller board plot and higher by 3%, 9.6%, and 12.6% over the yield obtained in Pascal soil moisture meter, VG-Meter 200 and the gravimetric method respectively