Smart Fog Irrigation for Fig Propagation: An IoT LoRaWan Closed-Loop Microclimate System

In this study, an intelligent fogging system is proposed to improve the irrigation and humidity management for the multiplication of fig trees (Ficus carica L.) via unrooted cuttings. The suggested technique is based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technology with the LoRaWAN communication protocol for the automation of microclimate management in a propagation greenhouse. The system is built on low power sensor nodes incorporating rain and soil moisture sensors. These nodes are interfaced to an embedded control unit and a fogging actuator . The gathered data is delivered wirelessly to a monitoring server via a LoRaWAN gateway. The measurements are evaluated, saved and shown on a real time interface. The technique forms a closed loop control system that maintains the optimal humidity levels around the cuttings and improves water consumption efficiency via automated activation of the fogging process upon detection of dry conditions.
The experiment findings validated the soil humidity was steady at around 31%, and the wet and dry phases alternated, which demonstrated the effective operation of fogging and atmosphere management. Most notably, rooting success rate was >75% indicating a considerable increase in propagation efficiency than traditional timer-based fogging systems and an indication of the efficacy of the suggested adaptive management strategy. The suggested solution results in a sustainable, water-saving, scalable and repeatable architecture for smart greenhouse propagation, using low-cost IoT infrastructure, wireless communication based on LoRaWAN, real-time monitoring and automated fog control.