Smart Greenhouse System for Cultivating Medicinal Plants for Patient Care with IoT Integration

Abstract

Bangladesh is a developing and overpopulated coun- try, where the increase in population has led to a reduction in arable land while the demand for food is rising, and diseases are spreading due to people’s lack of awareness. New diseases and pathogens are emerging and spreading among people. Due to the increase in population, the demand for medicines has also increased, but the decrease in arable land has made it difficult to obtain complete medicinal plants. This research proposes a low-cost IoT-based greenhouse system capable of creating a suitable environment for cultivating medicinal plants. The advanced system uses several gas sensor nodes to detect NH3, CO, smoke, and CO2, and if harmful gases increase, it triggers an alarm and notifies via email/messages. Additionally, by using soil moisture sensors, we can determine when the soil needs watering or how much water is available, and whether the soil is wet or dry. Temperature sensors inside the greenhouse provide information on the temperature, and if it gets too hot, a cooling fan is used to regulate the temperature. Moreover, there are other sensors such as a water level sensor, which indicates how much water is accumulated in the tank or specific water storage areas. If the water level decreases, it automatically refills through a motor. A rain sensor also detects external rainfall. Using these sensors, environmental parameters are monitored in real-time to create an ideal environment for cultivating medicinal plants. This system addresses common challenges in traditional agriculture, such as resource waste and unfavorable growth conditions. Furthermore, with the increasing population, we are facing challenges in meeting food and medicinal needs, but the smart greenhouse system can fulfill these demands for food and medicine.