PORTABLE SOIL SENSORS FOR AGRICULTURAL DIGITALIZATION AND CROP OPTIMIZATION FOR INDONESIAN FARMERS IN THAILAND
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55681/devote.v5i3.7047Keywords:
portable soil sensor, precision agriculture, soil monitoring, farmer empowerment, technology transferAbstract
Indonesian farmers working in the mountainous agricultural area of Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, still depend largely on visual observation, hand-feel assessment, manual thermometers, and accumulated experience when determining soil condition, fertilizer dosage, irrigation timing, and crop suitability. This situation limits access to comparable field data and may lead to inefficient input allocation and avoidable operational expenditure. This community service activity aimed to implement a portable precision soil sensor as an appropriate technology for agricultural digitalization, while strengthening farmers’ capacity to convert soil information into practical cultivation decisions. The activity used a Participatory Action Research approach through needs assessment, joint problem mapping, technology preparation, field deployment, demonstration, assisted practice, observation, and reflection with members of the Indonesian Farmers Union in Thailand. The sensor was used to provide real-time readings of soil moisture, pH, nutrient status, and water requirements. The readings were then interpreted for irrigation prioritization, fertilizer allocation, crop selection, and repeated monitoring of different land plots. The implementation produced an initial transition from experience-only assessment toward decisions supported by measurable field evidence. Farmers became able to operate the device, compare readings among sampling points, discuss the meaning of each parameter, and relate the information to routine land management. Program observations indicated potential fertilizer-use efficiency of 15–25% and potential overall production and operational-cost efficiency of 20–30%; however, these values remain preliminary projections because controlled multi-season yield and financial data were not available. The activity demonstrates that a portable soil sensor can function simultaneously as a measurement instrument, a farmer-learning medium, and a basis for more efficient and sustainable agricultural management. The program also supports SDGs 2, 9, and 17 through food-production optimization, practical innovation, and cross-country institutional partnership.
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