Based on the research topic "Soil environment monitoring system for agricultural production" by Dr. Truong Minh Thai - Head of Software Technology Department, School of Information and Communication Technology (Can Tho University) - agricultural experts as well as farmers can apply modern technology to rice cultivation, fruit tree cultivation... more effectively, accurately and intelligently.
Speaking to Lao Dong, Dr. Truong Minh Thai said that in the past 2 years (from December 2022 to present), the model has focused on researching the monitoring system to collect data, measure water levels in the fields and nutrients in the soil; thereby, helping agricultural experts to analyze and evaluate the impacts on agricultural production, providing appropriate instructions for farmers.
The monitoring system for agricultural production uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology and multi-agent sensor networks to collect and display soil environmental parameters in rice fields, orchards, etc., measuring parameters such as water level, NPK, EC, pH, temperature, and soil moisture.
Along with measuring devices, Dr. Thai also built a software model to support agricultural experts and farmers. When agricultural experts research a new production process, the model will help digitize those processes. Then, based on the digitized data, it will guide and remind farmers in the process of growing rice and fruit trees.
“This brings benefits in the traceability process in production. In particular, based on the collected data, we have built models on the application of Big Data analysis as well as artificial intelligence (AI), thereby providing advice and decisions to support the production process, in order to save fertilizer, reduce risks in production and improve product quality for farmers,” Dr. Thai explained.
The system integrates multiple devices using wireless connections. In particular, the measuring device (sensor node) is capable of operating in outdoor conditions and uses solar energy to operate.
Users can view environmental parameters on a dedicated display device, or a computer or smartphone via an Internet connection. The system allows for adjustable time between measurements and can operate continuously 24/7.
Dr. Thai shared that during the process of researching the model, he also encountered difficulties and obstacles. There is a big difference between testing measuring devices in the laboratory and transferring them to real-life use; therefore, the model had to go through the process of testing, manufacturing, and improving many times before it could produce a usable product.
Besides, a big challenge for the technology team is to create a simple, effective software model that meets the requirements to help farmers use it most easily.
Dr. Thai said that currently, the soil environment monitoring system in agricultural production and software models have been put into use. Some locations have implemented the model such as rice cultivation in Tran De district (Soc Trang province); rice cultivation adapted to climate change with the alternating dry and flooded model in Hon Dat district (Kien Giang province)...
"Although it has been put into use, the model is still recording feedback from users, thereby continuing to improve and upgrade both software and hardware, so that the devices become more convenient, the software is more user-friendly, meeting the practical requirements in rice and fruit tree cultivation," Dr. Thai added.
