Intelligent automated control of abiotic water and thermal stress in greenhouses for the optimization of pre-basic potato production

The projected 50 % increase in global food demand by 2050, coupled with declining freshwater availability and climate change, highlights the urgent need for more efficient agricultural practices. This study presents the development and implementation of a low-cost automated irrigation and thermal control system for pre-basic potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production in greenhouses in Siberia, Russia. The system is part of the DARY project and focuses on optimizing water and energy use under controlled water and thermal stress conditions. This experiment was conducted during two consecutive seasons in 2024 and employed environmental sensors and advanced algorithms to dynamically regulate irrigation and temperature according to the crop's physiological needs. It was compared with a conventional system under similar conditions, evaluating operational cost and control panel functionality. The results showed a 22 % increase in pre-basic potato production, 27 % water savings, and 12 % reduction in electrical consumption. Additionally, the control panel cost was 35 % lower than that of the commercial system, highlighting its scalability and adaptability. The system architecture includes an intuitive web application, MQTT communication, NoSQL database, and microcontrollers. The results validate DARY as a viable and sustainable technological solution for precision agriculture, especially in resource-constrained contexts.