STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Research and Reviews : Journal of Crop science and Technology Original Research

Jowar Millet Crop Monitoring and Analysis Robot (JMAR): A Smart Solution for Plant and Soil Health in Jowar Millet Farming

  1. Roohi Banu Pokhali Department of Science, The ZAS Academy
  2. Shlok Thumar Department of Science, The Doon School, Mall Road, Krishna Nagar, Dehradun

Abstract

Farmers cultivating jowar millet (Sorghum) face significant challenges in maintaining crop health and optimizing yield due to the limitations of traditional plant disease detection and soil health assessment methods. Visual inspection and indigenous knowledge are labour-intensive, time-consuming, and often inaccurate, while soil monitoring requires specialized equipment that is not always affordable or accessible. These issues hinder timely intervention and can lead to crop losses and soil degradation. To address these challenges, this research proposes the Jowar Monitoring and Analysis Robot (JMAR), an autonomous, real-time system that integrates soil parameter collection, analysis, and plant inspection using advanced yet cost-effective technologies. JMAR is built using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to ensure affordability, modularity, and ease of deployment. It also operates independently of internet connectivity, making it highly suitable for remote agricultural environments. The system is composed of two main components: soil parameter collection nodes and a robotic plant health monitoring node. The soil nodes are equipped with a multi-sensor module to measure essential soil properties such as moisture, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, and nutrient levels, along with a DHT sensor for monitoring ambient conditions. The robotic plant monitoring unit integrates an ESP32-CAM module and uses a lightweight machine learning model for early detection of plant diseases. Data from both nodes is transmitted wirelessly using LoRa and NRF24L01 RF modules to a remote analysis centre or laboratory. This enables timely and accurate decision-making for farm management. By automating the monitoring process and providing real-time, data-driven insights, JMAR supports precision agriculture, enhances resource efficiency, and promotes sustainability. It empowers farmers with actionable information, helping improve productivity and resilience, especially in small and medium-sized jowar farms operating under resource constraints.

Keywords

References (18)

  1. P. Parthasarathy Rao and G. Basavaraj, “Status and prospects of millet utilization in India and global scenario,” in Millets: Promotion for Food, Feed, Fodder, Nutritional and Environment Security, Proc. Global Consultation on Millets Promotion for Health & Nutritional Security, Hyderabad, India: Society for Millets Research, ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, 2015, pp. 197-209. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/219473655.pdf.
  2. Conekin BE. Lee Miller: Model, Photographer, and War Correspondent inVogue, 1927–1953. Fashion Theory. 2006;10(1-2):97-126. doi:10.2752/136270406778051058
  3. Sonawane KG, Nirgude RR, Kadam SA. Impact of Rabi jowar production technology in western Maharashtra. Trends Biosci. 2017;10:5943–50.
  4. E. Kannan, Analysis of Trends in India’s Agricultural Growth, Working Paper No. 276, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, India, 2023. ISBN: 978-81-7791-132-9.Retrieved from https://www.isec.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/WP-276-Elumalai-Kannan_1.pdf.
  5. Rai KN, Gowda CLL, Seetharama N. Adaptation and potential uses of sorghum and pearl millet in alternative and health foods. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf, Wiley. 2008 Oct; 7(4): 340–352.
  6. FAO. (1995). Sorghum and Millets in Human Nutrition. Food and Agriculture Organization. [Online]. Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/x2184e/x2184e00.htm.
  7. S. O. Serna-Saldivar, Cereal Grains: Properties, Processing, and Nutritional Attributes, 1st ed. Boca Raton, FL, USA: CRC Press, 2010. eBook ISBN: 9780429112119.
  8. Sukumaran Sreekala AD, Anbukkani P, Singh A, Dayakar Rao B, Jha GK. Millet Production and Consumption in India: Where Do We Stand and Where Do We Go? National Academy Science Letters. 2022;46(1):65-70. doi:10.1007/s40009-022-01164-0
  9. Priyanka Puri. Enhanced Vegetation Index and Land Use Analysis for Seven Sister States of India (2000–2022). Advances in Geographical and Environmental Sciences. 2023:167-183. doi:10.1007/978-981-19-6478-7_9
  10. J. Xue and B. Su, “Significant remote sensing vegetation indices: A review of developments and applications,” Remote Sensing of Environment, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 112–122, Jan. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2008.10.011.
  11. J. Rahal, N. Wadhawan, and M. Soni, “Millets: Production and utilization,” The Pharma Innovation Journal, vol. 12, no. 10S, pp. 1945–1948, 2023.
  12. Reddy DE. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). J Agric Food Inf. 2004;6:3–12. doi:10.1300/J108v06n02_02.
  13. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Lianage A, Yasak MF, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Prototype of Automated Vehicle Window Using the Detection of Raindrop Sensor. Journal of Automotive Powertrain and Transportation Technology. 2022;2(2). doi:10.30880/japtt.2022.02.02.004
  14. Wase AM, Tiwari SK, Wankhede CS, Malode AA, Kothari ML, Kalbande K. An IoT-Enabled Smart Gardening System as a Novel Approach to Environmental Education. 2023 IEEE Renewable Energy and Sustainable E-Mobility Conference (RESEM). 2023:1-6. doi:10.1109/resem57584.2023.10236244
  15. Daganato JPO, Berido RS, Dellosa JT, Platino AM. Design and Development of a Solar-Powered IoT-Based Fire Alarm System with Integrated GPS and GSM for Enhanced Emergency Response. 2024 4th Asian Conference on Innovation in Technology (ASIANCON). 2024:1-8. doi:10.1109/asiancon62057.2024.10838125
  16. Heuer M, Stiti M, Eras V, Scholz J, Ahmed N, Berrocal E, et al. High-Speed Fluorescence Imaging Corroborates Biological Data on the Influence of Different Nozzle Types on Cell Spray Viability and Formation. Journal of Functional Biomaterials. 2024;15(5):126. doi:10.3390/jfb15050126
  17. Lachapelle G, Gratton P. GNSS precise point positioning with android smartphones and comparison with high performance receivers. 2019 IEEE International Conference on Signal, Information and Data Processing (ICSIDP), Chongqing, China. 2019. p. 1–9. doi:10.1109/
  18. ICSIDP47821.2019.9173062.
Support