Enhancing network lifetime in precision agriculture using Apteen protocol

In the recent years Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have garnered attention. The applications of WSN includes collecting, storing and sharing sensed data which is used for habitat monitoring, agriculture, nuclear reactor control, security and tactical surveillance. Here we aim to explore the potential benefits of WSN to address precision agriculture problems in India. Since farming involves a vast area of land to be covered the deployment of sensor nodes includes a few barriers. Sensor nodes are battery powered and improvement of the lifetime of these nodes is important particularly when the nodes collect real time data and assist farmers towards proper cultivation. Here we propose a WSN protocol named APTEEN protocol that helps to increase network lifetime of the nodes by periodic monitoring of the sensor nodes and communicating the necessary parameters to the farmers for taking action. Cultivation of sugarcane crop includes a multi parameter monitoring system designed based on low-power ZigBee wireless communication technology for system automation and monitoring. Real time data is collected by wireless sensor nodes and transmitted to base station using zigbee. Data is received, saved and displayed at base station to achieve soil temperature, soil moisture and humidity monitoring. The data is continuously monitored at base station and if it exceeds the desired limit, a message is sent to farmer on mobile through GSM network for controlling actions. Further the limitations of wired sensor networks are overcome and have the advantage of flexible networking for monitoring equipment, convenient installation and removing of equipment, low cost and reliable nodes and high capacity.