International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015

210

ISSN: 2278 – 7798 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJSETR

Water Quality Monitoring And Controlling In Irrigation

Using Zigbee Technology

G.Lakshmi Prasanna1, S.Rajendra Prasad

2, Dr. C.D Naidu

3 , D. Ramesh Reddy

4

Abstract: Irrigated agriculture is dependent on an adequate water

supply of usable quality. Water used for irrigation can vary

greatly in quality depending upon type and quality of dissolved

salts. Salts are present in irrigation water in relatively small but

significant amounts. The problems that result very both and kind,

degree and modified by soil, climate and crop. The aim this paper

is to monitor the quality of water and control the water in

irrigation field. Here in this project we are monitoring the

conductivity of the water. Controlling is done by using moisture

sensor. If the moisture decreases , automatically the motor will be

ON and if the moisture reaches to its threshold level then the

motor will be automatically OFF. This data will be collected from

every node and sends to central station using zigbee technology.

Keywords: Moisture Sensor, conductivity sensor, Zigbee

Technology, Raspberry Pi.

I. INTRODUCTION

ZigBee has been developed to meet the growing

demand for capable wireless networking between numerous

low-power devices. In industry ZigBee is being used for next

generation automated manufacturing, with small transmitters in

every device on the floor, allowing for communication

between devices to a central computer. This new level of

communication permits finely-tuned remote monitoring and

manipulation. Arduino is used as it is user friendly and is a low

cost device which is used at nodes so the overall expenditure

on nodes will decrease. Raspberry pi is used at the control

station since the memory storage is high when compared to

arduino.

Zigbee technology is used to transmit the data which

comes from the node to central station. This technology has

many applications in various fields and which is prominently

used now. Data rate is high when compared to other

technologies. This project is to develop a system where water

quality is being monitored and distributed equally using

wireless network and is developed to monitor sensor values at

different nodes and transmits data to the central station when

the sensor values are deviated from their respective threshold

levels.

II. LITERATURE SURVEY

To resolve the problem of the manual analytical

method adopted in water quality detection with bad real-time

character, this paper introduces a remote water quality

measuring and monitoring system. It has used wireless sensor

network based on the ZigBee to realize the water quality

parameter remote probing and the real-time monitoring

function. Observation of the current or historical water quality

status can be done easily by the user, and it provides a

reasonable basis which has a simple architecture. According to

the test results, this system can run stable and its operation is

convenient [1].

Historically, wireless networks have mainly addressed

military applications. However, in recent years, man

applications came into existence, such as managing inventory,

monitoring product quality and monitoring disaster zones.

Various technical issues such as power consumption, radio

propagation, delay, routing protocols, sensors etc. need to be

considered according to the applications. In this paper, we

propose a application which is particularly used for wireless

networks, specifically a water equitable distribution and

monitoring system. We propose a possible communication

system for the water equitable distribution and monitoring the

quality, and describe our channel measurement approach [2].

But the main aim of our proposed system is to design

an easy and efficient method with low-cost and low- power.

III. PROPOSED WATER QUALITY

MONITORING AND CONTROLLING

SYSTEM

The system is used to develop an application which is

based on water quality monitoring and equitable distribution in

irrigation fields, this data is transmitted using zigbee

technology. Fig.1 shows the block diagram of the system.

This project aims to identify the deviation in the

sensor levels and transmits the data to the central station

through a wireless network. It proposes a novel, scalable,

intelligent and incremental architecture which is adaptive to the environmental parameters, quality perception that incorporates

intelligence for monitoring the quality of water and generates

alerts in terms of mails/ messages/ alarms as per the user

requirements.

As this project operates in a remote places the power

consumption, size, data security and delay in the transmissions

plays a major role in developing the application. A node is

formed with the Atmega328 micro controller to process the

sensor information, and a zigbee module to transmit the sensor

information to the central station. The Atmega328 controller is

best suitable for this application, as it operates with the low

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015

211

ISSN: 2278 – 7798 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJSETR

supply voltages of 3.3v and its low cost. Raspberry pi

(BCM2835 processor) is used at the central station since it has

significant memory to store the data and log the data

continuously.

Fig1: Block diagram of the system

A. Micro Controller (Atmega328)

The Arduino Uno is a microcontroller board based on

the ATmega328. This controller is used at nodes which has 14

digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM

outputs), 6 analog inputs, a USB connection, 16 MHz crystal

oscillator, an ICSP header, a power jack, and a reset button

[3].

Fig2: Arduino board

Features:

There are 14 digital I/O pins and 6 analog pins.

Operating Voltage: 5V

Flash memory is of 32KB, SRAM is of 2KB,

EEPROM is of 1KB and it has clock speed of 16MHz

This controller supports UART, SPI, I2C

communications.

Features of this board helps for easy use and also

which makes to use in this project.

B. Moisture Sensor

This is a simple sensor which can be used to detect

soil moisture when the moisture of the deficit the plant will be

watered, so that the plants in your garden without people to

manage.

Fig3: Moisture sensor

Module Output is high when the soil moisture deficit,

or the output is low.

Operating voltage:3.3V~5V

C. Conductivity Sensor

It measures Conductivity, Practical salinity units,

Total dissolved solids, specific gravity of sea water.

This sensor takes Temperature dependent or

temperature independent readings.

Full E.C. range from 0.07 μs/cm to 500,000+ μs/cm

Here in this project we have used i2c communication

for the conductivity sensor [4].

Fig4: Conductivity probe

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015

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ISSN: 2278 – 7798 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJSETR

D. Xbee Pro S2b

Xbee pro s2b is a zigbee module which is used to

transmit the data. The data rate of the module is 2.4GHz. It can

transmit the data up to 1500m range [5].

Fig5: Xbee pr s2b

E. Raspberry Pi Board

Raspberry pi board is used at the central station.

Model B is used in this project, BCM2835 which contains an

ARM1176JZ-F processor running at 700MHz, 256MB of

RAM, and a GPU named Video Core IV [6][7],[8].

Fig6 : Raspberry pi board

F. Relay

Relays are used where it is necessary to control a

circuit by a low-power signal or where several circuits must be

controlled by one signal. Here relay is used as we cannot drive

the DC motor with voltage supplied by the microcontroller.

G. Motor

An D.C motor is used to pump the water for the crop

when the moisture level of the plant is less than the threshold

level, and OFF when the moisture level is less than the

threshold level.

IV. WORKING OF NODE

Moisture sensor and conductivity sensor are

connected to arduino board which in turn is connected to xbee

pro s2b module. The data from the sensors is taken from the

board and send to central station using zigbee technology.

Moisture level and conductivity of water will be

continuously transmitting the data to central station. Here we

are using raspberry pi board at central station. When the

moisture level of the water is below the threshold level

decreases motor will ON, when it increases the motor will be

OFF.

V. FLOW CHART OF THE PROJECT

Fig7: Flow diagram

Moisture sensor is connected to analog pins of the

arduino board and conductivity sensor is connected to i2c pins

on the board. If the sensor values deviates from its threshold

level then appropriate action is taken.

Firstly we have initialize wire.h library in the arduino

software and then enable i2c mode.

If the i2c address is 100 then initialize serial port else

go back to start.

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015

213

ISSN: 2278 – 7798 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJSETR

After setting up the serial port call the device by id

num and then transmit the command.

Once after transmitting the command read the 1st byte

if the 1st byte is 1 then transmit the command else

again read the byte.

If the value is 2 then it is in failed state. If the value is

254 then it is in pending state. If the value is 255 then

there is no data.

VI. RESULTS

The results of the system are shown below which is

used for water quality monitoring and distribution of water in

the irrigation field. Conductivity of the water is being

monitored because if the conductivity level of the water is high

then there is danger that crops will die.

Fig8: At nodes.

This figure shows conductivity sensor and moisture

sensor are connected to the arduino board which is further

connected to the zigbee module which transmits the data. Xbee

transmits the data i.e moisture level, conductivity of the water

coming from the sensor to the central station

Fig9: Checks the moisture of the soil and water the crop

This figure shows that the moisture level is decreased

in the field so the motor is ON.

Raspberry pi is used at the central station since it has

more storage capacity when compared to arduino. At the

central station also we have connected another xbee for

receiving the data from the nodes.

Fig10: At Central station

This figure shows raspberry pi is connected to zigbee

module. The results are shown in the sytem screen. The data

from the nodes will be continuosly monitored to the central

station.

Fig11: Reading at the central station.

This figure shows the readings which are taken at the

central station which is connected to the raspberry pi.

VII. CONCLUSION

This proposed research project refers to an effective

system were water can be used in efficient way in irrigation.

The quality of the water is also being monitored so that there is

no effect for the crop. This system is simple, efficient, cost

effective which gives the desired output. The Design and

implementation of water quality monitoring system and water

equitable distribution using wirelessly is done with the zigbee

communication. The communication between the nodes is

established and nodes are sending their sensors information to

the central station when they are beyond the threshold levels. It

can be concluded that this project is best suitable for remote

areas where low power and low data rates are playing a key

role.

International Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Research (IJSETR), Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2015

214

ISSN: 2278 – 7798 All Rights Reserved © 2015 IJSETR

VIII. FUTURE SCOPE

In the future we can include many more water quality

sensors that effects the crops. In transmitting section we can

use more effective methods for routing protocols.

REFERENCES

[1]. Rasin, Z.; Hamzah, H.; Aras, M.S.M. “ Application and

evaluation of high power Zigbee based wireless sensor network

in water irrigation control monitoring system” Published in:

Industrial Electronics & Applications, 2009. ISIEA 2009. IEEE

Symposium on (Volume:2 )

[2]. Zulhani Rasin and Mohd Rizal Abdullah “Water quality

monitoring system using zigbee based wireless sensor

network”

[3]. http://www.arduino.cc/

[4]. http://www.digi.com/pdf/ds_xbeezbmodules.pdf

[5]. https://www.atlas-scientific.com/

[6]. I. Akyildiz, W. Su, Y. Sankarasubramaniam and E.Cayirci,

„A survey on Sensor Networks‟, IEEE Communications

Magazine, vol. 40, Issue: 8, pp.102114, August 2002.

[7]. "BCM2835 Media Processor; Broadcom". Broadcom.com.

1 September 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012

[8]. http://www.raspberrypi.org/

Author Profile

1.Ms. G.Lakshmi Prasanna is pursing MTech

in Embedded System at VNR Vignana Jyothi

Institute Of Engineering & Technology,

Bachupally, Hyderabad She received her

B.Tech from DVR College Of Engineering,

Sangareddy, Hyderabad. Her interests include

Wireless sensor Network, Embedded Systems

and Industrial Automation.

2. Mr. Rajendra Prasad Somineni presently

working as assistant professor in VNR Vignana

Jyothi of Engineering &

Technology, Bachupally, Hyderabad. He

received his MTech from SV University,

Tirupati, A.P and BTech in Electronics and

Communication Engineering from SK

University, AP. He has submitted his Ph.D Thesis. He has

Published 15 Research Papers in International/National

Journals/ Conferences. His areas of interest include Low-

Power SRAM Design, Low-Power High-performance Digital

Circuit Design, VLSI Circuits Design based on CNTFETs,

Embedded Systems, Microprocessors and Microcontrollers.

3. Dr. C.D Naidu presently working as Principal

in V.N.R Vignana Jyothi Of Engineering &Technology,

Bachupally, Hyderabad. He received his Ph.D in E.C.E from

J.N.T.U Hyderabad, M.Tech in Instrumation & Control

Systems from S.V University, Tirupati,Andhra Pradesh,

B.Tech in E.C.E from J.N.T.U, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.

He has published and presented many papers in International

and National Conferences and Journals.

4. Mr.D.Ramesh Reddy Presently working

as a Research Associate in Research and

consultancy centre, VNR Vignana Jyothi

Institute of Engineering &

Technology, Bachupally for ITRA-Water

Project, Hyderabad. He received his M.Tech

Degree in Embedded System at VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute

of Engineering & Technology, Bachupally, Hyderabad in

2012.B.Tech degree from Guru Nanak College Of

Engineering. His research interests include mobile operating

system and micro controllers.