An IoT-BASED SMART AUTO-CONTROLLED FRUIT VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR POST-HARVEST PRESERVATION

Abstract

 

Post-harvest fruit spoilage is a major concern in agricultural supply chains due to uncontrolled environmental conditions inside storage units. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and ethylene gas accumulation significantly accelerate ripening and degradation, leading to economic losses for farmers and distributors. This paper presents a smart auto-controlled fruit ventilation system that utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to continuously monitor storage conditions and automatically regulate ventilation in real time. The proposed system integrates gas sensors, temperature and humidity sensors with a microcontroller-based control unit to detect unfavourable storage conditions. When ethylene gas concentration or environmental parameters exceed predefined safe thresholds, the system automatically activates ventilation mechanisms to restore optimal conditions. Sensor data is processed in real time, enabling timely control actions without manual intervention. To enhance system reliability, adaptive threshold control and continuous monitoring strategies are employed. Experimental evaluation demonstrates improved freshness retention, delayed ripening, and reduced spoilage when compared to traditional manual ventilation methods. The proposed system is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and suitable for small- and medium-scale fruit storage applications, contributing to sustainable post-harvest management.