A Simple Optical Sensor Based System For Monitoring Plant Health Status

Abstract

Abstract

Plant nutrition is the basic need for plant growth and productivity. Nutrient monitoring of plants is the key factor for farmers and agriculturalists. Nitrogen is a necessary element for plant growth and development and it is a major component of chlorophyll in plant leaves. Chlorophyll content of a plant is one of the most important natural indicators of plants nutritional stress and the overall health status of plants. Several sensors have been developed that measure and monitor plant health status, however most of this methods are destructive or they involve expensive instruments. Therefore, it is important to develop a device that is able to detect nutrient stress at an early stage, allowing for early remedial deed to be taken. The proposed sensor system therefore aims to develop an optical sensor system based on imaging and spectroscopic techniques governing leaf properties such as transmittance, absorption/reflectance for early and non-destructive detection/monitoring of plant health status. The proposed sensor is based on measuring the diffused reflectance/transmittance of tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) leaves, using very simple visible and infrared LEDs and photo-detectors. And based on these transmittance/reflection measurements obtained from the Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) leaves at their various growth stages, the spectral characteristics are obtained. These spectral signatures are then statistically analyzed to correlate them with the plant health status. The proposed methodology is expected to provide non-destructive, convenient, reliable and cost-effective solution for the agri-tech industry.

Keywords: Plant health, spectroscopy, optical sensor, chlorophyll, plant nutrients

Cite this Article

Wesheü Mero, Subra Mukherjee. A Simple Optical Sensor-based System for Monitoring Plant Health Status. Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research & Advances. 2019; 6(1): 89–98p.