Determination of Low-Cost Arduino Based Light Intensity Sensors Effectiveness for Agricultural Applications

HIGHLIGHTS

• This research aimed to explore low-cost light sensors for agriculture.

• TSL2561, BH1750, TEMT6000, light sensors have been used.

• Low-cost light sensors can be used for a range of applications in agriculture.

• The light calculation values of low-cost light sensors were statistically compared.

• Calibration results were also analyzed, so the reliability of low-cost light sensors was calculated.

Abstract

This research is aimed to explore the efficacy and comparison of low-cost light sensor measurements for agricultural applications. For this reason, TSL2561, BH1750, and TEMT6000, low-cost light sensors have been used with various lighting regimes. Consequently, their efficiency has been tested for agricultural applications. These types of low-cost light sensors can be used in a range of applications in agriculture. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate the calculation of light sources. The light calculation values of low-cost light sensors were statistically compared. Calibration results were also analyzed, so the reliability of low-cost light sensors was detected. Statistical analyses of light values have been presented in the results and discussion part of the paper as; the regression coefficient based on UNI-T UT382 vs. TSL2561 for the calibration was found as R-Sq 99,6%, R-Sq(adj) 99,5%, and S 10,18; for the calibration of UNI-T UT382 vs. BH1750 was found as R-Sq 100%, R-Sq(adj) 100% and S 2,73; at last for the calibration of UNI-T UT382 vs. TEMT6000 was found as R-Sq 99,2%, R-Sq(adj) 99,1% and S 14,71. After calibration, the regression coefficient based on UNI-T UT382 vs. TSL2561 for the light measurement was found as R-Sq 100%, R-Sq(adj) 100%, and S 2,21; the light measurement for UNI-T UT382 vs. BH1750 was found as R-Sq 100%, R-Sq(adj) 100% and S 1,09; also for the UNI-T UT382 vs. TEMT6000 was found as R-Sq 100%, R-Sq(adj) 100% and S 1,73. According to calibration and measurement results, the BH1750 sensor is better than the others.

Keywords:
light analysis; low-cost light sensors; microcontroller; digital agriculture; agricultural production.