Democratizing IoT for Smart Irrigation: A Cost-Effective DIY Solution Proposal Evaluated in an Actinidia Orchard

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

2.1 section presents the current research status. Therefore, following the writing style of mainstream SCI papers, sections 1 and 2.1 are combined to form an introduction section.
4.2 section mainly introduces the hardware composition. The hardware structure and composition are usually common structures, and the author did not independently develop new hardware. Therefore, it is recommended to omit the contents of 4.2.1 to 4.2.6.
This paper focuses on system design. It is suggested to add data and research related to measurement accuracy.
The price analysis is excessive, and this part does not have much research significance. It occupies a large space, and it is recommended to shorten it.
4.2.8. Development and coding expresses the specific code running process.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the time and effort dedicated to reviewing our manuscript. Your comments and suggestions were addressed with the utmost attention, and we are confident that they have contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

Please find attached our detailed response letter, where we address each of your points.

Kind regards,
Telmo Adão

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

- Revise title and keep it short. 
- Add more findings and key outcome in the abstract section. 
- Keywords should not be similar as of title. revise all. 
- Improve the content quality of the introduction section and take it to global, regional and national levels. 
- Consider with IoT with support of crop models in the intro. as explained in " 10.3390/agriculture11020097 " 
- Link with climate and extreme weather is weak so discuss and get help from this article "Assessing Agrometeorological Damage after the 2022 Pakistan Floods: Insights from Multi-Sensor Satellite Data".
- Google Sheets was chosen .. IoT and Google Cloud-based data management - Add a complete process showing Flowchart to understand the whole process and system functioning. 
- Why selected Yangzi, located in Hubei Province,China?
- Fig 2 need more clarity  and details. 
- Fig 5 need good quality and font. 
- How do the described protection and encapsulation methods—such as shielded cabling, waterproof coatings, heat-shrink tubing, and IP65-rated junction boxes—address the specific environmental challenges (e.g., humidity, dust, corrosion) faced by underground and exposed sensors in this system? Are there potential limitations or trade-offs in using these measures for long-term field durability?
- What are the advantages of using IP65-rated enclosures and waterproof solder joints in sensor systems deployed in harsh environments?
- Section 5.2 is not clear. How did the integration of IoT-based sensor data (e.g., soil moisture, air temperature, and irrigation volume) with Google Sheets streamline Kiwicoop’s irrigation decision-making process, and what were the key challenges in transitioning traditional actinidia crop managers to this data-driven approach?
- Could this IoT-based irrigation model be scaled to other crops, and what adaptations would be needed for different soil or climate conditions?
- It would be great to add the cost-benefit analysis for one acre or one hec. 
- Also discuss the challenges faced during the field testing. It is very good to share in one section in the discussion. 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the time and effort dedicated to reviewing our manuscript. Your comments and suggestions were addressed with the utmost attention, and we are confident that they have contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

Please find attached our detailed response letter, where we address each of your points.

Kind regards,
Telmo Adão

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript presents an interesting, low-cost, and practically applicable proposal for an IoT-based system for monitoring climatic and soil parameters in an Actinidia (kiwifruit) orchard. Communication between the ESP32 IoT device and Google Cloud was achieved through the REST API protocol. For data management and online indicator visualization, Google Sheets was employed, enabling users to decide when and how much to irrigate. The technical staff used these data to adjust irrigation frequency and duration, shifting from a fixed scheme of 20 minutes per day to alternating and reduced strategies that saved up to 62.5% of irrigation time. The document details the architecture of the IRRIOTA system, component selection, assembly procedures, and replication guidelines, which adds significant value in terms of reproducibility and potential for technology transfer.

Nonetheless, several aspects could be improved:

• First, in the manuscript, the description of the IRRIOTA system and its application in the Actinidia orchard initially gives the impression that an intelligent irrigation control system has been implemented. However, the evaluated solution is based solely on monitoring climatic and soil variables to guide manual irrigation decisions by the technical staff. It is recommended to clarify throughout the manuscript that the scope of the work corresponds to monitoring and generating data for decision-making, and not to direct management or control of irrigation, thereby avoiding possible misinterpretations of the implemented functionalities.
• Some parts of the introduction could be streamlined to avoid redundancy, with a preference for clearly highlighting the contributions of the work.
• The study could be enriched with a more formal statistical analysis to validate the significance of the reductions in irrigation time and water consumption, incorporating variability metrics. Although implementation costs are detailed, it would be useful to include a return on investment (ROI) or payback period analysis that considers savings in water and energy, as well as potential productivity gains, which would facilitate decision-making by prospective adopters.
• It would also be relevant to discuss connectivity alternatives for rural environments with limited coverage, considering autonomous solutions such as solar panels.
• While the manuscript acknowledges limitations in the capacitive sensors and the rain gauge, the discussion could be more quantitative, presenting the degree of deviation from reference measurements. Including a validated calibration protocol and comparative results with standard methods would enhance the robustness of the proposal.
• Furthermore, a broader comparison with commercial smart irrigation solutions would better position the proposal, highlighting its advantages in cost, accessibility, and adaptability, as well as its current limitations.
• Given that cloud-based platforms are used, it would be relevant to discuss issues related to data privacy and ownership, as well as possible cybersecurity measures to protect the collected agricultural information.
• Figures and tables are generally well presented, although some could benefit from improved readability and visual consistency. For example, Figures 2 and 3 could be enhanced by explicitly showing the interaction between the ESP32 IoT device and Google Cloud, the REST API protocol used for communication, and Google Sheets for climatic and soil parameter visualization. It should also be emphasized that the IoT device and sensors form a sensor network.
• The English is understandable, but a linguistic revision could further optimize clarity and conciseness.

In summary, this is a well-founded and relevant study with significant potential to contribute to water-use efficiency and technological adoption in the agricultural sector, especially in resource-limited contexts. The suggested improvements aim to reinforce statistical rigor, broaden economic analysis, and address aspects of data reliability and security, which could increase its impact and applicability at the international level.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the time and effort dedicated to reviewing our manuscript. Your comments and suggestions were addressed with the utmost attention, and we are confident that they have contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

Please find attached our detailed response letter, where we address each of your points.

Kind regards,
Telmo Adão

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article is highly practical for both technical and non-technical users involved in agriculture. By presenting IRRIOTA, an open-source, low-cost system that integrates multiple sensors, it offers a feasible solution for real-time irrigation management and crop monitoring. The integration with Google Sheets enhances its accessibility, making it easy to use for farmers and developers alike.

In practice, the system's scalability and cost-effectiveness enable its adoption in diverse agricultural settings, such as vineyards and orchards. Its real-time data storage and customizable dashboards provide clear insights, making it a valuable tool for improving water management and optimizing irrigation decisions. The practical applications of this system also extend to broader agricultural tasks, such as pest control, fertilization optimization, and climate monitoring, showcasing its versatility for addressing real-world challenges in farming.

Moreover, the article outlines future improvements that can enhance its functionality, making it a forward-thinking resource for continuous innovation in agricultural practices. Overall, IRRIOTA provides practical, accessible, and scalable solutions that can significantly benefit modern agriculture.

The article is recommended for publishing.

 

Best regards,

Reviewer

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the time and effort dedicated to reviewing our manuscript. Your comments and suggestions were addressed with the utmost attention, and we are confident that they have contributed to improving the quality and clarity of our work.

Please find attached our detailed response letter, where we address each of your points.

Kind regards,
Telmo Adão

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

it is ok