Synergizing IoT Precision Irrigation and Community Capacity Building for Enhanced Mangosteen Quality

Krisanadej Jaroensutasinee (Center of Excellence for Ecoinformatics, School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161)
Mullica Jaroensutasinee (Center of Excellence for Ecoinformatics, School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161)
Chacha Sattharat (Center of Excellence for Ecoinformatics, School of Science, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161)
Elena B. Sparrow (Department of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK)

Emerging Science Journal
Vol. 10 No. 5 (2026): October

This study evaluated how IoT-driven precision agriculture and community capacity building affect mangosteen yield and quality. We set up a high-density NB-IoT sensor network on 50 smart farms and 10 conventional rainfed farms, and we confirmed the statistical reliability of the sample imbalance using Welch's t-tests. The IoT system used the Magellan cloud platform to keep a consistent 480 cb root-zone soil water matric potential, and precision irrigation notably increased fruit weight and total yield while reducing serious physiological defects like translucent flesh and gumming by more than 80%. Empirical validation showed uniform microclimates across subdistricts, which supports the centralized weather-station approach, and this research uniquely combined cyber-physical systems with organized human capacity development to address the flowering challenge in mangosteen. This study offers a scalable framework for tropical perennials, ensuring high export-grade fruit quality and improved socioeconomic resilience in agricultural communities vulnerable to climate change.