Three junior high school students in Calasiao, Pangasinan, developed a device that can detect soil condition and water plants automatically, offering a low-cost solution to common farming problems.

The students from Calasiao Comprehensive National High School named their invention “Paranum,” a Pangasinan word that means irrigation.

The device can water plants automatically when needed and stop once the soil reaches the desired moisture level.

“Automatic re-irrigate siya, and dyan siya lalabas. Kapag na-detect naman niya na na-reach niya iyong desired moisture for the soil, is mag-stop na siya,” Shekaina Untalan, one of the student-inventors, said.

The group also created a mobile application that allows users to monitor soil conditions in real time, even from a distance.

“Applicable po siya sa electronics. Kahit malayo po sila sa field po nila, pwede nilang ma-detect or ma-monitor iyong soil condition nila kung saan nagkukulang ang soil health nila, and real time,” Jannea Landazabal, one of the student-inventors, added.

Aside from moisture, the device can detect levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as soil and water temperature and fertilizer levels.

The students said the innovation aims to address overwatering and improper fertilizer use.

“Mostly sa mga nagiging problema po ng mga farmers is nagiging overwatering iyong sa mga plants nila, and syempre ensure din po pagtamang pag-gamit ng mga fertilizer,” Janelle Peralta, one of the student-inventors, said.

Gerald Suriaga, an agriculture scientist, said such technology could help farmers increase yield and income by better understanding the needs of their crops.

“Dinagdagan nila ng NPK, iyong nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. So malaking innovation iyon. As part ng commercialized existing kasi, tulad ng nabanggit nila, syempre kailangan din nating malaman iyong mga sustansya ng mga halaman ay nalalaman natin,” he said.