Globally, smallholder farmers provide the food relied upon by up to 70% of the world’s population, yet they remain financially vulnerable and increasingly affected by climate variability (Joshi, 2024). While traditional irrigation methods have long been used to water crops, modern technology allows for more efficient and precise watering and fertilization, easing farmers’ workload and enhancing crop management. Recent studies by Mohammadi et al. (2019) show that root water and nitrate uptake under optimal irrigation conditions (So treatment) exceeds that of conventional methods, with application efficiency improving by 9–15% depending on the treatment. This underscores the value of automated water management systems in maximizing resource use.

The primary objective of this study was to develop a functional prototype for water and fertilization management of eggplant, enabling small vegetable farmers to efficiently manage irrigation and nutrient application while reducing labor and increasing productivity.