SIP5
IoT-Assisted Organic Compost Production in Open Piles
Sector
Arable/Cross-Sector / Tomatoes, Cucumber & Lettuce
Country
Cyprus
SIP Leader
EMBIO Diagnostics
Target Group
Farmers, compost producers, advisors, and compost experts.
The Challenge: Improving Compost Quality and Process Efficiency
Organic composting in open piles remains a widely used practice, but it presents several challenges for farmers and compost producers. The process is highly dependent on experience and frequent manual intervention, while key composting conditions are difficult to assess accurately in real time. The main challenges addressed by SIP5 include:
Limited real-time monitoring: Temperature, moisture, and pH are typically checked manually, requiring frequent site visits and subjective interpretation.
Inconsistent compost quality: Variability in moisture and decomposition conditions often leads to uneven nutrient profiles and delayed compost maturity.
High manual effort: Regular watering, turning, and corrective actions increase labour requirements and operational costs.
Lack of traceability: Traditional composting offers limited documentation of process conditions and interventions, reducing transparency and reproducibility.
How the ADS Works
SIP5 introduces an IoT-assisted compost monitoring and decision-support system designed to support open-pile composting through real-time sensing, automation, and data-driven interventions. The system operates by:
- Deploying wireless sensor nodes inside compost piles to continuously measure temperature, moisture, and pH.
- Monitoring compost conditions in real time and identifying deviations from optimal ranges.
- Compost quality validation: Nutrient analysis (NPK) using the B.EL.D™ device, complementing sensor-based compost process monitoring.
- Automatically triggering irrigation through motorized valves (eValves) when moisture drops below predefined thresholds.
- Integrating weather forecasts to avoid unnecessary watering and anticipate drying conditions.
- Providing remote access to compost data through digital dashboards, reducing the need for physical inspections.
- Logging all measurements and actions (sensor-based and manual) for traceability and later analysis.
This sensor-driven approach ensures a more efficient, uniform, and environmentally friendly composting process while reducing manual workload and improving overall compost quality.
ADS Deployment Modes
SIP5 is implemented in two complementary deployment models:
CLOUD MODEL
Cloud-Based ADS: Sensor data is transmitted via LoRaWAN to a cloud platform, where it is visualized, analyzed, and used to trigger automated irrigation actions. This model supports remote monitoring, centralized data storage, and integration with external services. The cloud model also supports B.EL.D™ cloud-based NPK analysis, where measurement data are uploaded for centralized processing and historical review.
Edge-Based ADS: Data processing and automation logic run locally on an on-site edge device, allowing real-time operation even with limited or unstable internet connectivity. Only selected summaries or alerts are transmitted externally, reducing data traffic and operational costs. The edge model includes an offline B.EL.D™ mobile application, allowing local NPK analysis without network connectivity, suitable for field conditions.
SIP5 is implemented in two complementary deployment models:
Both models were deployed in parallel and compared against a manually managed control pile.
OpenAgri OS Services
SIP5 integrates with OpenAgri OS services to enhance interoperability, traceability, and data reuse:
Farm Calendar: Centralized logging of sensor measurements, irrigation events, composting actions, and sampling activities.
Weather Data Service: Supports context-aware irrigation decisions based on forecasted conditions.
Reporting Service: Enables generation of compost batch reports combining sensor data and management records.
These services ensure that composting activities are documented in a structured, reusable, and interoperable way.
Real-World Benefits & Impact
By introducing IoT-powered compost monitoring, SIP5 delivers multiple benefits to organic farmers and composting facilities:
Reduced manual labour through remote monitoring and automated irrigation.
Improved compost consistency, supported by stable moisture control and timely interventions.
Faster and more controlled compost maturation, compared to manual management.
Improved compost quality assessment, combining real-time process monitoring with validated NPK analysis, supporting informed decisions on compost readiness and field use.
Higher transparency and traceability of composting operations.
Flexible deployment, suitable for both connected and connectivity-constrained environments.
Overall, SIP5 shows how sensor-guided compost management can support more efficient, reliable, and sustainable compost production without disrupting existing practices.