Synchronous monitoring agricultural water qualities and greenhouse gas emissions based on low-cost Internet of Things and intelligent algorithms

Water Res. 2024 Oct 19;268(Pt A):122663. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122663. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

This study addressed the challenges of cost and portability in synchronous monitoring water quality and greenhouse gas emissions in paddy-dominated regions by developing a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system (WG-IoT-MS). The system, equipped with low-cost sensors and integrated intelligent algorithms, enabled real-time monitoring of dissolved N2O concentrations. Combined with an air-water gas exchange model, the system achieved efficient monitoring and simulation of CO2 and N2O emissions from agricultural water bodies while reducing monitoring costs by approximately 60 %. The proposed method was validated in paddy-dominated regions in Danyang, China. Results indicated the excellence of the dissolved N2O concentration model based on support vector regression, demonstrating accurate predictions within a concentration range of 2.003 to 13.247 μg/L. Notably, the model maintained acceptable predictive accuracy (R2 > 0.70) even when some variables were partially absent (with the number of missing variables < 2 and the missing proportion (MP) ≤ 50 %), making up for the data loss caused by sensor malfunctions. Furthermore, the model performed well (R2 > 0.80) when testing data sourced from paddy fields and lakes. Finally, CO2 and N2O emissions were successfully monitored, with the results validated using a floating chamber method (R2 > 0.70). The method provides crucial technical support for quantitative assessment of water quality and greenhouse gas emissions in paddy-dominated regions, laying a foundation for formulating effective emission reduction strategies.

Keywords: Greenhouse gas emissions; Internet of things monitoring system; Paddy-dominated regions; Radial basis function-based support vector regression; Water quality; Water-air interface.