Wireless sensor network for dryland farming

In India more than 50% of cultivable area comprises of semi-arid and arid regions. Dryland crops such as sorghum, pigeonpea, pearl millet, groundnut, chickpea and so on contribute to over 40% of total food grain production. Soil and water management play a crucial role in improving the yield of dryland crops. Monitoring the field conditions by making use of appropriate sensors and suitably adapting the right irrigation practice are essential to utilize the resources effectively. Application of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) helps to perceive the soil parameters such as soil moisture, soil temperature, soil nutrients and there after adjusting the irrigation scheduling helps to effectively use the scarce water resource and increase the productivity in drylands. This work examines the prospects of dryland farming using WSN in India with respect to various crop types such as sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut.