Design and Development of an IoT-Enabled Smart Cultivation System for Sustainable Oyster Mushroom Production

Abstract

Mushroom cultivation is a highly sensitive agricultural process that requires precise control of environmental parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration, and light intensity to ensure optimum yield and quality. Traditional mushroom farming practices largely depend on manual monitoring and control, which are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. An IoT-enabled smart mushroom cultivation system that automates environmental monitoring and control using modern sensor and communication technologies. The developed system employs microcontroller-based platforms such as NodeMCU (ESP8266/ESP32) integrated with multiple sensors to continuously monitor critical growth parameters in real time. The sensed data are processed locally and transmitted via Wi-Fi to cloud-based IoT platforms such as ThingSpeak, Blynk, or Firebase. These platforms provide intuitive mobile and web dashboards that allow farmers to remotely visualize environmental conditions and receive timely updates. Based on predefined threshold values, the system automatically controls actuators including exhaust fans, humidifiers, heaters, and lighting systems to maintain optimal growing conditions without constant human intervention. The key innovation of this system lies in transforming conventional mushroom cultivation into a smart, data-driven process. A continuous real-time sensing, automated decision-making, and remote accessibility significantly reduce labor dependency and operational costs while improving environmental stability. The system also enables rapid response to unfavorable conditions, minimizing crop losses and enhancing productivity. The expected outcomes of the project include improved yield consistency, better resource utilization, reduced manual labor, and enhanced operational efficiency. The intergartion of IoT technology with traditional mushroom farming practices, the proposed system offers a scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable solution suitable for small, medium, and commercial mushroom growers. This smart cultivation approach contributes to precision agriculture and supports the adoption of digital technologies in modern agri-based enterprises.