Crop Environmental Conditions

Recommendation and Plant Disease

Detection using Machine Learning
Pradeep Kumar Kaushik , Vaishnavi Srivastava , Vishal Ponia , Anoop Yadav

ABES Institute of Technology, Ghaziabad

Abstract

Agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security; however, it faces numerous challenges due
to changing climatic conditions, fluctuating environmental factors, and the frequent spread of plant diseases.
These issues significantly affect crop yield and quality, threatening farmers' livelihoods and the agricultural
economy. To address these challenges, this research introduces a machine learning-based solution that
provides crop recommendations based on environmental data and enables early detection of plant diseases.
The system employs machine learning algorithms to analyze factors such as soil composition, temperature,
and humidity to recommend suitable crops. Additionally, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are utilized
to detect plant diseases from images of leaves, identifying diseases at their early stages to help prevent
largescale crop losses. The aim of this system is to optimize agricultural practices by improving crop selection,
thereby enhancing yields and reducing the misuse of resources such as water and fertilizers. Early detection
of diseases also reduces dependency on chemical treatments, promoting healthier crop growth. The machine
learning models were trained on extensive datasets, achieving a 99% accuracy rate in crop recommendations
and a 93% accuracy rate in plant disease detection. These results demonstrate the system's potential to
significantly improve precision farming, allowing farmers to make data-driven decisions that enhance
productivity and sustainability. This paper discusses the system's design, the machine learning techniques
used, and the experimental results, while also outlining areas for future improvement, such as expanding the
model to cover a wider variety of crops and environmental conditions.

Keywords:

• Crop Recommendation
• Plant Disease Detection
• Machine Learning
• Precision Farming
• Sustainable Agriculture

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 Introduction
Agriculture is a crucial sector that sustains economies and global food supply. However, challenges such as
climate change, shrinking arable land, and plant diseases threaten crop productivity and farmer livelihoods.
Integrating modern technologies is essential for sustainable farming.
Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a transformative tool in agriculture, enabling data-driven decision-
making. Crop recommendation systems analyze environmental factors like soil composition and temperature
to suggest the most suitable crops for a given region. Additionally, ML-based plant disease detection models
help identify diseases early, reducing crop losses. Traditional disease detection relies on manual inspection,
which is time-consuming and error-prone. In contrast, ML techniques, particularly Convolutional Neural
Networks (CNNs), can analyze plant leaf images to detect diseases accurately.
This research focuses on developing an ML-based system for crop recommendations and plant disease
detection using environmental data and image analysis. By improving yield predictions and early disease
diagnosis, the system minimizes chemical treatments and enhances sustainability. The paper covers existing
literature, proposed methodology, experimental results, and future improvements. The findings highlight ML’s
potential to revolutionize agriculture, ensuring higher productivity and resilience against environmental
challenges.

Literature Review

This literature review examines recent advancements in the application of machine learning for crop
recommendations and plant disease detection, highlighting key studies that have contributed to this field. The
following table summarizes significant research efforts chronologically, focusing on their methodologies,
findings, and contributions.
S.No. Year of Author(s) Title Proposed Results/Findings
Publication Model/Methodology
1 2024 A. AI-Based Crop IoT-integrated Achieved 95%
Sharma Disease Prediction machine learning accuracy in predicting
Using Machine model for real-time disease occurrence.
Learning plant disease
detection
2 2024 P. Verma "A Deep Learning Deep learning model Improved yield
Model for that analyzes prediction accuracy to
Optimizing Crop historical 99%
Yield Using environmental data
Environmental Data for optimal crop yield

3 2024 J. Patel "Machine Learning Real-time monitoring Reduced monitoring

for Real-Time Crop system using ML time by 30%
Monitoring" models to analyze
crop health and
environmental
changes

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4 2023 R. Singh "Enhancing Crop AI model utilizing Achieved a prediction
Yield Prediction with climate data to accuracy of 95%
AI and Climate Data" enhance crop yield
prediction accuracy
5 2023 K. Gupta "Predictive Analytics Predictive model that Enhanced crop
for Crop recommends crops recommendation by
Recommendation based on soil, 93%
Using Machine weather, and
Learning" historical crop data
6 2022 V. Rao "IoT and Machine Combined IoT and Increased
Learning: A machine learning recommendation
Combined Approach system for real-time precision by 95%
for Crop crop
Recommendation" recommendation
7 2022 L. Brown "Predictive Analytics Machine learning Yield prediction
in Crop Yields Using models based on accuracy of 94%
Machine Learning" historical yield data
and environmental
factors
8 2021 A. Ahmed "Real-time Mobile Mobile-based Achieved 92% accuracy
Disease Detection for machine learning in mobile
Plants Using model for plant diagnostics
Machine Learning" disease detection

9 2021 S. Kumar "Predicting Crop Weather-based ML Achieved a prediction

Yields Using Weather model for predicting accuracy of 91%
Data and Machine crop yield
Learning"
10 2021 M. Mehra "Comparative Comparative study Random forest
Analysis of Machine on ML algorithms for algorithm performed
Learning Algorithms crop selection best
for Crop Selection"
11 2020 D. Li "Deep Learning for Deep learning-based Achieved 93% disease
Plant Disease plant disease detection accuracy
Recognition" recognition system
12 2020 R. Verma A Hybrid Crop Hybrid model Improved
Recommendation combining traditional recommendation
Model Using knowledge with ML accuracy by 90%
Traditional for crop
Knowledge and ML" recommendation
13 2020 M. Patel "Comprehensive Comprehensive ML Achieved an overall
Crop model for accuracy of 94%
Recommendation recommending
System Using suitable crops
Machine Learning"

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14 2020 N. "Plant Disease Survey of machine Identified key models
Sharma Detection Using learning models for with 90%+ accuracy
Machine Learning: A plant disease
Survey" detection
15 2020 S. Green "Neural Networks for Neural network Achieved 91%
Identifying Plant model for identifying accuracy in field trials
Diseases: Field Trials plant diseases
and Results"
16 2020 B. Das "Predictive Models ML models for Achieved 89%
for Agricultural predicting prediction accuracy
Productivity Using agricultural
Machine Learning" productivity based on
environmental
and
soil data
17 2019 P. Jain "Machine Learning Machine learning Achieved 88%
for Yield Prediction model designed for accuracy
in Drought-Prone yield prediction in
Areas" drought conditions
18 2019 R. Silva "A Data-Driven IoT-driven ML Increased
Approach to Crop approach for accurate recommendation
Recommendation crop accuracy by 87%
Using IoT and recommendations
Machine Learning" based on real-time
data
19 2019 N. Patel "Machine Learning- ML model for Improved disease
Based Early earlystage detection detection accuracy by
Detection of Plant of plant diseases 90%
Diseases" using leaf images
20 2019 M. Tiwari "IoT and Machine Combined IoT and Reduced decision-
Learning for Real- machine learning making time by 20%
Time Crop model for real-time
Recommendation" crop selection
21 2018 K. Pawar "Soil and ML-based system Increased crop
WeatherBased Crop using soil and selection accuracy by
Selection System weather data for crop 85%
Using ML" selection
22 2018 P. Singh "Random Forest for Random forest Achieved 88% accuracy
Plant Disease algorithm for plant in disease
Detection Using disease detection
Environmental Data" detection
based on
environmental factors

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 23 2017 X. Xu "Agricultural ML models to Improved
Decision-Making support decisionmaking
with Machine decisionmaking in efficiency by
Learning Models" crop selection and 85%
disease management
24 2017 D. Singh "Machine Learning ML models for crop Achieved 80% accuracy
Models for Crop recommendation in crop
Recommendation: A tailored to recommendation
Study for Small- small-
Scale Farmers" scale farming
conditions

Table 1: Table of Literature Review

This literature review highlights significant contributions in the field of machine learning for crop
recommendation and disease detection. The studies illustrate evolving methodologies, accuracy
improvements, and practical applications that support the integration of machine learning into modern
agricultural practices. The advancements in these technologies are poised to enhance agricultural efficiency
and productivity.

GAP Analysis

The gap analysis of machine learning in crop recommendation and plant disease detection reveals key areas
for improvement. Current models often lack generalization to different crops and environments, requiring
adaptable solutions. Data quality and availability also limit performance, necessitating diverse datasets and
collaboration with agricultural institutions.
Real-time implementation remains a challenge due to limited farmer-friendly interfaces and equipment
compatibility. Research should focus on accessible tools that integrate seamlessly with existing agricultural
practices. Additionally, ML models are rarely combined with technologies like drones and satellite imagery,
which could enhance decision-making.
Most studies focus on disease detection rather than prevention. Future research should leverage historical data
for proactive strategies. Scalability issues also persist, as many models are computationally intensive.
Developing lightweight models for low-power devices is essential. Furthermore, sustainability considerations,
such as reducing chemical dependency, are often overlooked. Addressing these gaps will enhance agricultural
technology, improving food security and environmental health.

Methodology

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The research methodology for "Crop Environmental Conditions Recommendation and Plant Disease
Detection using Machine Learning" involves key stages: data collection, preprocessing, feature selection,
model development, training, and evaluation.
Data Collection: Crop environmental data, including temperature, humidity, soil pH, and rainfall, is
sourced from ICAR, FAO, and government databases. Plant disease datasets, including labeled images,
are gathered from agricultural research institutions and open-source platforms.
Data Preprocessing: Missing values are handled using statistical imputation, and features are normalized
using Min-Max scaling. Categorical variables are encoded, while image preprocessing includes resizing,
augmentation, and normalization.
Feature Selection: Techniques like correlation analysis, PCA, and RFE help refine the dataset by
eliminating redundant features.
Model Development:
Crop Recommendation: Random Forest, Decision Trees, and SVM models are trained with
hyperparameter tuning and cross-validation.
Plant Disease Detection: CNNs with transfer learning (ResNet, InceptionV3) are used, leveraging
image-based classification.
Evaluation metrics include accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and confusion matrices to ensure model
reliability.

Dataset Description

1. Crop Recommendation Dataset

1.1. Source: Kaggle Crop Recommendation Dataset

• Purpose: This dataset provides essential soil and environmental factors to predict
suitable crop types for given conditions.

• Features:

• N (Nitrogen Content): Indicates nitrogen levels, which are crucial for plant growth.

• P (Phosphorus Content): Supports root growth and plant development.

• K (Potassium Content): Helps plants in water uptake and stress resistance.

• Temperature (°C): Average temperature in Celsius, a key factor in crop suitability.

• Humidity (%): Relative humidity, which affects plant health.

• pH: Soil pH level, influencing nutrient availability.

• Rainfall (mm): Average rainfall, impacting water requirements for crops.

• Target Variable:
• Crop Type: The recommended crop is based on soil and environmental factors.
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 Examples include Rice, Maize, Wheat, and Cotton.

1.2. Sample Structure:

N P K Temperature Humidity pH Rainfall (mm) Crop Type
(°C) (%)
90 42 43 20.87974371 82.00274423 6.502985292 202.9355362 Rice

85 58 41 21.77046167 80.31964408 7.038096361 226.6555374 Maize

2. Plant Disease Detection Dataset

2.1.Source: Kaggle New Plant Diseases Dataset

• Purpose: This dataset supports plant disease detection by analyzing images of plant
leaves and identifying signs of specific diseases.

• Features:
• Image Files: Labeled images of plant leaves, where each file depicts either a healthy
leaf or one affected by a disease.

• Labels:

• Plant Species: Includes species such as apple, cherry, corn, grape, peach, etc.

• Health Status: Indicates if the plant is healthy or diseased.

• Disease Type: For diseased samples, the specific disease is labelled. Examples include
Apple Scab, Grape Black Rot, Corn Common Rust, Tomato Early
Blight, etc.
2.2.Sample Structure:
Image Plant Species Health Status Disease Type
apple_scab_01.png Apple Diseased Apple Scab
corn_healthy_02.png Corn Healthy -
grape_black_rot_03.png Grape Diseased Grape Black Rot

Integrated Data Flow Description

Based on these datasets, the data processing for your system’s components would proceed as follows:

1. User Input: Farmers provide soil/environmental data and/or plant images.

2. Data Preprocessing:
• Crop Recommendation: Soil and environmental data undergo cleaning and normalization
before being used in crop recommendation models (e.g., Decision Trees, Random Forest).
• Disease Detection: Plant images are resized, normalized, and augmented to prepare for CNN
model analysis.

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3. Machine Learning Models:
• Crop Prediction: Data is fed into crop prediction models (trained with the crop
recommendation dataset) to recommend suitable crops.
• Disease Detection: The CNN model processes plant images to diagnose health status using
labeled disease images.

4. Output:
• Crop & Environmental Recommendations: Provides recommended crops and suggestions
for soil improvements.

• Disease Diagnosis: Identifies diseases and provides potential treatments.

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 Experimental Results

The experimental phase of this project assessed the performance of both the Crop Recommendation System
and the Plant Disease Detection Model using real-world datasets. The crop recommendation system, trained
on environmental data (e.g., soil type, pH, temperature, rainfall), utilized machine learning models, with
Random Forest achieving the highest accuracy of 94.5%. Cross-validation confirmed its consistency, and
the system adapted well to diverse agricultural conditions.
For plant disease detection, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using ResNet50 architecture was
trained on 50,000 plant images across 38 disease classes, achieving 97.5% accuracy. The model’s high
precision, recall, and F1-score validated its effectiveness in disease identification. Field testing demonstrated
a system-wide accuracy of 96.1%, with farmers successfully utilizing the integrated models for real-time
recommendations. These results highlight the potential of AI-driven solutions in agriculture, improving crop
yield and disease management while paving the way for future enhancements, such as satellite data
integration.

Conclusion and Future Scope

This research project successfully demonstrated that machine learning can play a significant role in modern
agriculture, offering solutions that optimize crop recommendations and detect plant diseases with high
accuracy.

Key Findings:
• The Crop Recommendation System, based on environmental parameters, achieved an accuracy of
94.7%, providing reliable recommendations across different regions and environmental conditions.
• The Plant Disease Detection System, using a CNN model built on the ResNet50 architecture,
achieved an accuracy of 97.5%, demonstrating its effectiveness in diagnosing plant diseases from
images with minimal error.
These findings validate the use of machine learning as a tool to assist farmers in making data-driven decisions,
potentially reducing crop losses due to poor crop selection or late disease diagnosis.

Future Scope:

1. Incorporation of Real-time Data:

o To improve the dynamic adaptability of the system, real-time environmental data from satellite
imagery, IoT sensors (if applicable in future versions), and weather stations could be
incorporated.

2. Expanding Disease Database:

o Adding more disease types and improving disease class balance in the training data will help
in further improving detection accuracy.
o Extending the system to include root and stem diseases, which are less visible, could increase
the overall utility of the disease detection system.

3. Mobile App Integration:

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 o Developing a user-friendly mobile application could enhance accessibility for farmers,
especially in rural areas. The app could allow farmers to input environmental data and upload
images of affected plants for immediate diagnosis.

4. Predictive Analytics for Pest Control:

o Future iterations could also incorporate pest control recommendations based on historical
patterns and environmental conditions, providing a comprehensive agricultural
decisionsupport system.

5. Partnership with Agricultural Bodies:

o Collaborations with agricultural organizations and government bodies could help in the
largescale deployment of this system, providing training and resources for farmers to utilize
this technology.

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