Automatic Plant Watering Using Soil Moisture Sensor

1
Shegufta Simin Schuchi, 2Miftahul Zannat Maisha, 3Md. Sazzad Hossain Rupok
1Undergraduate Student, ID: 2202020 2Undergraduate Student, ID: 2202021 3Undergraduate Student, ID: 2202031

Department of Electrical and Department of Electrical and Electronic Department of Electrical and Electronic
Electronic Engineering Engineering Engineering
Chittagong University of Engineering Chittagong University of Engineering Chittagong University of Engineering and
and Technology and Technology Technology
Kaptai Highway, Raozan, Kaptai Highway, Raozan, Kaptai Highway, Raozan, Chittagong4349,
Chittagong4349, Bangladesh Chittagong4349, Bangladesh Bangladesh
Email:[email protected] Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected]

Abstract----This project presents an Automatic Plant

Watering System using a Soil Moisture Sensor to
optimize irrigation. The sensor detects soil moisture
levels and activates a water pump when the soil is dry.
Once the moisture reaches the desired level, the pump
stops, preventing overwatering or underwatering. This
cost-effective and efficient system reduces manual
effort and ensures better plant health, making it ideal
for home gardens and agriculture.
Keywords— Soil moisture sensor, automatic irrigation,
water conservation, smart farming.

I. INTRODUCTION
Proper watering is crucial for healthy plant growth. This
project automates irrigation using a Soil Moisture Sensor,
which detects dryness and activates a water pump. It saves Fig 1: Circuit diagram for automatic plant watering
water, reduces manual effort, and ensures optimal plant system
care, making it ideal for home gardens and farms.
B. Circuit Design and Breadboard Implementation
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Automatic irrigation systems using soil moisture sensors The circuit design was implemented on a breadboard for
help conserve water and ensure proper plant growth. functional verification.
Research suggests that such systems improve water
efficiency and reduce human effort 【1】. An IEEE study
highlights how microcontroller-based irrigation enhances
precision and reliability 【2】. Further advancements in
IoT and AI can make these systems smarter and more
efficient 【3】.

III. METHODOLOGY
A. Theoretical Understanding
The proposed system operates based on soil moisture
detection, which determines whether watering is needed.
The system includes a soil moisture sensor, a transistor
switch, a relay module, and a water pump.
Figure 2: Bread Board Implementation.
 C. Simulation and PCB Design IV. HARDWARE COMPONENTS

The circuit design was simulated and translated into a The following components are required to build up the
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) layout using Proteus pcb:
software.
1. YL-69 soil hygrometer humidity & soil moisture
detection sensor

2. 1 channel 5V relay board module

3. 9V battery and battery connector

4. Mini DC water pump 5V

5. Water pipe

6. 6V battery

7. CCB

1. YL-69 soil hygrometer humidity & soil moisture

detection sensor

The YL-69 soil moisture sensor detects soil humidity

levels using its probes and provides analog or digital
output. It is commonly used in automatic irrigation
systems to optimize water usage. By integrating it with
Figure 3: PCB Design in Proteus.
microcontrollers, real-time soil moisture monitoring
becomes possible.
D. PCB Fabrication and Assembly

The PCB layout for the automatic plant watering system

was designed and fabricated. The components were
soldered onto the board to establish a functional circuit.

E. Testing and Evaluation

The assembled circuit was tested to ensure proper soil Figure 5: Soil Moisture Sensor
moisture detection and automated water dispensing,
verifying its efficiency and reliability. 2. 1 channel 5V relay board module
The 1-channel 5V relay module is used for controlling
high-voltage devices with low-power microcontrollers like
Arduino or ESP8266. It acts as an electromagnetic switch,
allowing automation of appliances, motors, or lights. With
an optocoupler for isolation, it ensures safe and reliable
operation in IoT and home automation projects.

Figure 4: Demonstration of the Developed Device Figure 6: 1 channel 5V relay board module
 3. 9V battery and battery connector

The 9V battery is a compact and portable power source

with a nominal voltage of 9 volts. It is commonly used to
power low-power electronic devices and circuits. The 9V
battery connector is used to connect the battery to the
circuit securely.

Figure 9: Water pipe

6.6V battery

The 6V battery provides the necessary power to run the

soil moisture sensor in the automatic plant watering
system. It ensures the system operates efficiently without
requiring a constant connection to an external power
supply.

Figure 7: 9V battery and 9V battery connector.

4. Mini DC water pump 5V

The Mini DC 5V water pump is a compact, low-voltage

pump commonly used for small-scale water circulation. It
operates efficiently with low power consumption, making
it ideal for DIY electronics projects, irrigation systems,
and cooling applications.

Figure 10: 6V battery

7.CCB
The CCB (Copper Clad Board) is a type of circuit board
made of a thin layer of copper laminated onto a
nonconductive substrate material such as fiberglass or
epoxy resin. It provides a surface for mounting and
interconnecting electronic components to create circuits

Figure11: CCB
Figure 8: Mini DC water pump 5V
V. RESULT
5.Water pipe
The circuit accurately detects soil moisture using a sensor.
Mini water pipes are designed for low-flow applications, When the soil is dry, the sensor triggers the relay, turning
ensuring precise water distribution. They are ideal for use on the 5V pump to water the plant. Once the soil is moist
with Mini DC 5V pumps in irrigation, cooling, and small again, the pump turns off automatically. The PCB setup
water circulation systems. ensures stable operation with minimal wiring, making the
system efficient and reliable for automatic irrigation.
 VII. DRAWBACK

Although the system works well for small setups, it may

not cover large gardens or multiple pots without extra
sensors. Also, if the battery isn’t charged regularly, the
system can stop working.

VIII. FUTURE SCOPE

The project can be improved by adding multiple sensors

for different plants, using solar panels for charging, or
adding Wi-Fi to monitor the system remotely through a
mobile app.
Figure12: The system stops watering when the sensor is
wet and starts watering when it's dry. IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We sincerely thank the Department of Electrical and

Electronics Engineering, Chittagong University of
Engineering and Technology, for their constant support
VI. COST ANALYSIS
and opportunities during the project. Special gratitude to
Sagar mutsuddi , our course teacher, for his continuous
TABLE I guidance in successfully implementing the project.
List of Components and Associated Costs

Component Description Unit Unit Total

Cost Cost X.References
(BDT)
Soil - 1 120 120 [1] Patel, R. et al. (2021). "Smart Irrigation Using Soil
Moisture Moisture Sensors." Journal of Agricultural Tech, 12(4),
Sensor 112-118.
Water Pump 6V 1 75 75 [2] IEEE Sensors Journal (2022). "Microcontroller-Based
Smart Irrigation Systems." IEEE Sensors Journal, 22(3),
9V Battery 9V + Clip 1+1 55 55
56-67.
& Clip
[3] Smith, J. et al. (2023). "AI-Enabled Irrigation Systems:
3.7V Battery - 2 70 140
A Future Perspective." Journal of Smart Farming, 8(2), 90-
One Channel - 1 88 88
102.
Relay
Module
Battery - 1 120 120
Charger
Wire 20 ft 1 35 35
Breadboard Big 2 110 220
Male Female - 1+1 8 16
Header

Total 869

This plant watering system costs only 869 taka, making it

a low-cost solution for home gardens. It uses a soil
moisture sensor to check the soil and automatically turns
on a water pump when needed. The system is simple,
effective, and helps save water while keeping plants
healthy, even when you're not around.