Prototype of Automatic Watering and Fertilizing System of Harum Manis Mango Buleleng Bali

Prototype of Automatic Watering and Fertilizing System of Harum Manis Mango Buleleng Bali

Appropriate technology is use of technology to help all human work in all fields. Appropriate technology applied in agriculture is an effort to help farmers especially in carrying out all agricultural activities, both watering plants or fertilizing, so that farmers are expected to feel helped by the use of technology, both in terms of time and energy efficiency.

However, not all farmers take advantage of technological developments, as does the harum manis mango farmers of Buleleng Bali. In early 2019, Buleleng farmers of harum manis mango were able to export2.5-toned mangoes to Russia. This triggered the Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman, to target 100 tons to exports of Bali's harum manis mango in order to be able to meet the Russian market during 2019. Thus, the farmers of harum manis mango Buleleng, Bali were required to be able to improve and maintain the quality of harum manis mango resulting from.

Picture Harum Manis Mango

Various methods have been attempted by farmers to be able to maintain the quality and increase the quantity of sweet fragrant mangoes so that the income and profits of farmers also increase. One such effort is to minimize operational costs, including daily laborers' wages, and so on. However, this causes farmers to work extra. To overcome this, efforts are needed to apply technology in agriculture specifically for farmers of harum manis mango in Buleleng Bali.

The technology offered is to implement an automatic watering and fertilizing system. Farmers no longer need to pay day laborers to water and fertilize harum manis mango, because all of the work will be helped by the existence of the tool. In addition, the use of automatic watering and fertilizing systems can increase the efficiency of farmers' working time. Costs previously incurred for daily laborers' wages can be allocated for maintenance of tools that do not cost too much. So that the quality of harum manis mango plants is maintained and the income of farmers increases.

The prototype of the automatic watering and fertilizing system is designed by using the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller as the main control to do the system work automatically. The automatic system implemented in this design is based on 2 main sensors namely the soil humidity sensor and the temperature sensor. Measurement of humidity sensor and temperature sensor will trigger the watering pump based on soil moisture conditions and the temperature of the environment around the plant. Whereas the fertilization process is carried out periodically within a certain period (2 times fertilization in 1 month). All sensor measurement results from this tool will be displayed in a 20x4 LCD display, with a keypad for fertilizer settings that will be done automatically. In addition, the  next future, this tool can designed by utilizing renewable energy resources (sun light) as an energy supply reserve to be able to operate.

Picture Blok Diagram of Automatic Watering and Fretilizing System

            Before the controller can work, first determine the parameter values of the soil moisture level and temperature, so that the controller can work with a maximum later. In determining parameters of soil moisture level and temperature, a literature study and field testing are conducted to obtain valid data. Tests were carried out on 3 soil samples with different conditions namely dry, moist and wet. Tests on dry soil produce a range of 10% - 18% humidity values measured using a humidity sensor. Tests on moist soils produce a moisture value range of 20% - 29%. While testing on wet soils produces humidity values ranging from 30% and above. This parameter value will be used as a reference microcontroller to turn on the watering pump automatically. Based on these parameter values, the watering pump turns on when the soil moisture conditions at value of 10% - 18%.

            Whereas the fertilization process is carried out within a certain time frame. In this design, the fertilization process is based on the time and date integrated with RTC (Real Time Clock). Time settings can be done using the keypad that is available on the controller.

Picture Control Panel of Automatic Watering and Fertilizing System

            With the automatic watering and fertilizing system, it is expected to be able to provide benefits to farmers, especially farmers of harum manis mango in order to maintain quality and be able to increase the quantity of harum manis mango in Buleleng Bali.