In the heart of Bulgaria, at the South-West University “Neofit Rilski,” researchers are pioneering a green revolution in the world of IoT and precision agriculture. Led by Nikolay Todorov Atanasov, a team of scientists is exploring the electromagnetic properties of natural plant leaves, aiming to create eco-friendly and biodegradable substrates for wireless IoT devices. This groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal ‘Sensors’, could significantly reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste generated by smart agriculture.
The study focuses on the leaves of three widely grown crops: winter wheat, corn, and sunflower. The findings reveal that the electromagnetic properties of these leaves vary significantly, with winter wheat and sunflower leaves exhibiting a range of relative permittivity values that could be crucial for designing efficient IoT devices. “We found that winter wheat and sunflower leaves have values of the real part of relative permittivity ranging from about 33 to 69 (wheat) and 13 to 32 (sunflower), respectively,” Atanasov explains. “These properties are influenced by the position of the leaf on the plant stem and its distance from the soil, which is particularly evident in winter wheat and sunflower.”
This research is not just about understanding the electromagnetic properties of plant leaves; it’s about creating a sustainable future for precision agriculture. The short lifespan of IoT devices used in farming—typically just a few months—has led to a surge in electronic waste. By using biodegradable materials like plant leaves as substrates for IoT devices, farmers can significantly reduce their environmental footprint. “The lifespan of IoT devices used for real-time monitoring of environmental or plant parameters in precision agriculture is typically only a few months, from planting to harvest,” Atanasov notes. “This short lifespan creates challenges in managing the e-waste generated by smart agriculture.”
The implications of this research are vast. Imagine IoT devices that can monitor plant health and detect diseases early, all while being completely biodegradable. This could revolutionize the way we approach precision agriculture, making it more sustainable and efficient. The data obtained from this study will allow for the development of non-destructive sensors that can accurately monitor how plants respond to external stresses, such as drought, associated with climate change. Furthermore, this knowledge will facilitate the online monitoring of plant health by developing flexible wearable antennas on biodegradable substrates from plant leaves without the need to extract or damage leaves.
As the global IoT market continues to expand, with forecasts predicting a growth from 18.8 billion connected devices at the end of 2024 to about 40 billion by 2030, the need for sustainable solutions becomes increasingly urgent. This research from South-West University “Neofit Rilski” is a step in the right direction, offering a glimpse into a future where technology and nature coexist harmoniously. The findings, published in ‘Sensors’, open new avenues for innovation in the field of precision agriculture and IoT, paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.