Design and development of an IoT-based dendrometer system for real-time trunk diameter monitoring of Christmas trees

Real-time assessment of trunk growth is vital for understanding tree growth fluctuation, especially under irrigation application and other environmental factors. Accurate trunk diameter assessment is crucial for optimizing water use and tree health improvement, and its cost-effectiveness is needed for widespread adoption in agriculture. This study focused on the development of an accurate and low-cost IoT-based dendrometer system for real-time trunk diameter measurement of Christmas trees. The dendrometer sensor was calibrated (R2 = 0.99) to ensure the accurate conversion of sensor voltage to trunk diameter fluctuations. This IoT-based dendrometer system consists of a platform that enables wireless data transmission, cloud-based storage and real-time analysis of the trunk diameter. Temperature fluctuation influenced the sensor readings with no impact, which validated the system's reliability in open field conditions. Christmas tree diameter monitoring showed significant trunk expansion and contraction under irrigation application and water stress, respectively, which signifies the system ability to monitor the real-time trunk growth responses. Cost analysis makes this technology economical and reliable for widespread application in precision agriculture. Therefore, this low-cost IoT-based dendrometer system is reliable, accurate, and economically viable for improving irrigation management, tree health monitoring, and supporting farmers through data-driven agricultural practices.