Wireless Sensor Network and Irrigation System to Monitor Wheat Growth Under Drought Stress

Studying drought in a greenhouse setting allows to analyze plant growth under controlled environmental conditions. However, simulating different drought intensities by varying the soil moisture is challenging. This study describes a sensory and control system to simulate drought conditions for wheat, within a framework to study this crop's genetic responses under drought stress. The system uses drip irrigation and allows to maintain the soil moisture within a specified range on potted wheat plants. It allows identifying the amount of water required for irrigation in wheat growth stages, and conducting biological experiments to understand the effects of drought stress on wheat growth.