Publication Details
Abstract
Manual watering of chili plants often leads to soil moisture imbalance, which can hinder the growth of seedlings. This research focuses on the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) in chili seedling systems to create a more efficient, automated monitoring and watering process. The proposed system employs an ESP32 microcontroller as the main controller, two Soil Moisture sensors to measure real-time soil humidity, a relay module, and a 12V DC pump for automatic irrigation. Sensor data are transmitted and displayed via the Blynk application, a cloud-based IoT platform that enables remote monitoring and control through mobile devices. The research process includes hardware and software design, sensor testing, and soil moisture data analysis conducted over three days at a farming area in Sungai Langka Village, Pesawaran Regency. The test results indicate that the system successfully maintains soil moisture within the optimal range of 60-80%, automatically activating the pump when the humidity drops below the threshold and deactivating it once the desired level is reached. The integration of IoT technology significantly enhances water-use efficiency, minimizes manual intervention, and supports stable and measurable chili seedling growth. Overall, this study demonstrates that IoT-based automation can serve as an innovative solution for the modernization and digitalization of agricultural systems, contributing to sustainable smart farming practices.