Design and Implementation of Rule-Based and Time-Based Logic in a PAC-Based Precision Irrigation Control System

This study aims to design and functionally validate a prototype precision fertigation control system based on a Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) capable of managing water and nutrient delivery through two approaches: a time-based approach as the basic control and a rule-based approach as a corrective response based on sensor data (pH, EC, and moisture) of the growing medium. The method used in this study is Research and Development (R&D), and the scope of the research is limited to the Preliminary Field Testing phase, which includes requirements gathering and literature review, architectural planning (sensors, gateway, PAC, actuators, HMI/Human Machine Interface), development of an initial prototype (hardware and software), as well as initial-scale functional testing through hardware functional testing and black-box testing on the HMI interface. The test results showed that all acceptance criteria were met, including sensor function deviation of 2.5% (≤5%), actuator response time of 1.2 s (<2 s), current deviation of 2.0 A (≤3 A), voltage stability of 12.1 V (11.4–12.6 V), operational reliability of 96 hours (≥72 hours), communication success rate of 99.5% (≥99%), and system response latency of 320 ms (<500 ms); all results were classified as Pass. Thus, the developed prototype has proven to be stable and suitable for initial field testing, and provides a solid foundation for further development toward broader application in more efficient and responsive fertigation management.

@article{Syamsi2026,
  title     = {Design and Implementation of Rule-Based and Time-Based Logic in a PAC-Based Precision Irrigation Control System},
  journal   = {International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications},
  volume    = {17},
  number    = {7},
  year      = {2026},
  publisher = {The Science and Information Organization},
  author    = {Djohar Syamsi and Mimin Muhaemin and Oviyanti Mulyani and Hanif Fakhrurroja and Puput Dani Prasetyo Adi},
  doi       = {10.14569/IJACSA.2026.0170746},
  url       = {https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2026.0170746}
}