Development and Implementation of Low-Cost, Real-Time Soil Moisture Monitoring System: Optimizing Pineapple Water Management, A Case Study

Author(s): Tikhon S. Kozlov

The green tops of pineapple fruits create a concerning amount of waste. To reduce this waste, the green tops can be recycled by growing indoor pineapple plants and donating fresh fruits to underserved communities. However, growing pineapple plants indoors is not trivial due to the plant’s sensitivity to the amount of water in the soil. To overcome this barrier, this study developed a new device – Ananas Moisture Assessment Tool or AMAT for short – calibrated under pristine conditions (absorbent paper containing a known volume of water) and controlled conditions (soil samples with known moisture levels). Five LED lights representing different moisture levels communicated these conditions to the user. Furthermore, blind testing of this device demonstrated reproducible performance. Finally, a 3D printer was used to create a protective case for indoor use for the finished device. The AMAT is expected to solve three problems: 1) pineapple waste reduction, 2) freshwater conservation, and 3) maintaining optimal soil moisture for pineapple plants grown indoors. In the long run, this device can be adapted for other plants and larger-scale use, such as that used by farmers.