Prototipo electrónico de análisis de microclima y control de riego para mitigar el déficit de presión de vapor (DPV) en cultivos

Abstract

This integrative project aims to design and implement an electronic prototype capable of analyzing agricultural microclimate variables and controlling irrigation in order to mitigate water stress associated with Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) in crops. It is hypothesized that automated irrigation control, based on microclimate analysis and the regulation of soil moisture and water layer level, allows optimal physiological conditions for plant development while improving water use efficiency. The project is justified by the need to promote accessible and data-driven technological solutions for agricultural irrigation. The project development followed an experimental approach using an ESP32 microcontroller, temperature and relative humidity sensors (DHT11), soil moisture sensors, and an ultrasonic sensor for water layer measurement. A PI control system was implemented to regulate irrigation flow through a water pump driven by a PWM signal, considering VPD as a system disturbance. The obtained results showed that the prototype effectively characterized microclimate dynamics and achieved stable regulation of soil moisture and water layer level. A reduction in steady-state error and a consistent system response under environmental variations were observed. It is concluded that the developed prototype is functional, technically feasible, and replicable, representing an efficient solution for irrigation automation focused on VPD mitigation in agricultural crops. Keywords: Agricultural microclimate, Vapor Pressure Deficit, PI control, Automated irrigation, ESP32