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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433077
Research Project: Development of a Monitoring Network, Engineering Tools, and Guidelines for the Design, Analysis, and Rehabilitation of Embankment Dams, Hydraulic Structures, and Channels

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Smart irrigation system for specialty crop production at South Farm Research Center, University of Missouri

Author
item KRISHNA, KARRA - University Of Missouri
item KING, ALEXANDER - University Of Missouri
item SCOTT, BLAKE - University Of Missouri
item BOYAPALLY, DHANYA - University Of Missouri
item REINBOTT, TIMOTHY - University Of Missouri
item JEGATHEESAN, KRISHIEKA - University Of Missouri
item YATT, MOUSSA - University Of Missouri
item ABEYSINGHE, UMANDA - University Of Missouri
item Hunt, Sherry
item ALOYSIUS, NOEL - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Inefficient irrigation in specialty crop production leads to water waste, uneven crop hydration, and high labor demands. This project develops and field-tests a low-cost, scalable smart irrigation system for specialty crops at the University of Missouri’s South Farm. The system integrates an ESP32-based controller that operates multiple solenoid valves and an electric pump with a METER ZL6 soil data logger and an ATMOS 41 weather station. Sensor and weather data are transmitted via cellular connection to ZENTRA Cloud and a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant, which together provide a reliable control hub. An irrigation algorithm combines soil moisture thresholds with reference evapotranspiration (ETo) from the Climate Engine API to decide when and how long to irrigate each zone. When thresholds are exceeded, the controller automatically starts the pump and opens the appropriate valves, logging each event and sending email notifications; a gas-powered pump provides a manual backup to ensure irrigation continuity. A Flask backend with a React-based web dashboard allows researchers to visualize soil moisture and weather conditions in real time, monitor pump and valve status, adjust scheduling parameters, and view zone locations on an interactive map. The system is currently deployed for field trials on specialty crops, where we are evaluating water-use efficiency, soil moisture stability, and labor savings compared to conventional manual irrigation. Preliminary observations indicate more stable soil moisture and reduced unnecessary irrigation events. At the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), we will present the system architecture, deployment experience, and quantitative results on water savings and management efficiency, highlighting how this approach can support climate-resilient, data-informed irrigation in specialty crop production.