Development of a smart watering system for controlling humidity inside mangosteen canopy in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand

Abstract

In Thailand, mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) production is essential for domestic consumption and export. Mangosteen without scars on their surface is considered high-quality fruit. Scars reduce their market demand. The common cause of scars is thrips infestation. Humidity is an important climatic factor that affects the thrips populations. Lower humidity inside the mangosteen canopy increases the thrips numbers. Thus, increasing humidity can control the thrips population. This study developed a smart watering system to increase the humidity inside the mangosteen canopy in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, southern Thailand. This system provided water automatically and increased humidity inside the mangosteen canopy.