Assessing the Usability of IoT-Based Smart Farming for Sustainable Organic Agriculture

Abstract

This study evaluates the usability of an IoT-based smart farming system developed to support organic agriculture in Thailand. Many small-scale farmers still spend considerable time manually monitoring soil conditions and managing irrigation, often without access to practical technology. This slows farm operations and makes efficient water use more difficult. To address these challenges, the system was designed with wireless soil-moisture sensors that collect real-time data and automatically control irrigation. It operates in automatic mode during the day and allows manual control at night through a mobile app. The aim is to reduce daily workload, conserve water, and improve decision-making on the farm. Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS). Twenty organic farmers in Thailand participated in the evaluation after using the system under real working conditions. The results showed an average SUS score of 86, which is considered excellent and reflects a high level of user satisfaction. The findings suggest that this type of smart farming system can be a valuable tool for small-scale organic farmers. It provides a simple and accessible way to adopt agricultural technology without requiring advanced technical skills. By making irrigation easier and more efficient, the system supports sustainable practices and helps farmers manage their time and resources more effectively.