IoT-Based Intelligent System for Real-Time Soil Nutrient Monitoring and Decision Support in Farming: Potential for Deployment in Rice Farming in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive examination of the design, potential implementation, and existing technological landscape of Internet of Things (IoT)-based intelligent soil nutrient monitoring systems for rice farming. While the paper presents a model contextualized for Niger State, its findings offer insights relevant to rice-producing regions across Nigeria. Rice farmers face significant challenges related to soil fertility management, often due to reliance on inefficient traditional methods. By reviewing recent developments in sensor integration, embedded systems, and cloud-based platforms, this paper explores how such technologies can be applied to provide continuous, real-time monitoring of essential soil parameters like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH, temperature, and moisture. The findings suggest that IoT-enabled systems, complemented by mobile applications and decision-support tools, offer a low-cost and scalable solution to enhance yield, optimize fertilizer use, and improve data-driven decision-making for small and medium-scale farmers. This paper aims to provide a state-of-the-art overview of current trends and contextualize the proposed system within the global and local technological ecosystem.