IoT-Based Environmental Health Monitoring System in Agriculture: A Case Study on Watermelon Cultivation to Support Sustainable Community Well-being

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture requires smart solutions that balance productivity with environmental and public health concerns. This study presents an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring and control system for watermelon cultivation, designed to enhance microclimate management while minimizing resource waste. The system integrates DHT11, soil moisture, and TCS230 sensors to monitor air temperature, soil humidity, and leaf color, respectively, with data processed through the Blynk platform for real-time decision-making. Field implementation showed a 50% reduction in water usage, decreasing from 20 liters to 10 liters per plant per day. Moreover, pesticide application frequency dropped by 66%, from three to one time per week, due to early disease detection via automated leaf color recognition. These improvements not only increased operational efficiency but also reduced environmental load and potential chemical exposure in farming communities. The system demonstrated stable performance with high accuracy in environmental data reporting, supporting its application in sustainable and health-conscious agriculture.