DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-OPTIMIZED SMART SEED STORAGE SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED BIO-ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI

Post-harvest losses and poor seed preservation remain major challenges in agricultural production, necessitating innovative storage solutions to maintain seed viability, quality, and longevity. This study investigates the development of an artificial intelligence-optimized smart seed storage system and evaluates its effectiveness in preserving multiple seed types, including beans, maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and groundnuts. The system integrates temperature (maintained at 5–10 °C), relative humidity (40–50%), and moisture sensors with bio-environmental monitoring using optical and chemical sensors to detect microbial growth and pest activity. Controlled experimental trials were conducted over three months, with key parameters measured, including germination rate, seed moisture content, microbial proliferation, pest incidents, and post-harvest losses. Data analysis using Design Expert Software v13 and ANOVA confirmed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) in all monitored parameters under AI-controlled storage compared to conventional methods. Seeds stored in the AI system maintained germination rates of 90–95%, moisture fluctuations ≤3%, microbial counts of 5–10 CFU/g, pest incidents of 0–2 per unit, post-harvest losses of 2–5%, and stable environmental conditions (temperature 5–10 °C, RH 40–50%), outperforming conventional storage where germination was 65–75%, moisture fluctuated 8–12%, microbial counts reached 50–80 CFU/g, pest incidents were 5–12 per unit, post-harvest losses were 15–20%, and environmental conditions varied widely (temperature 22–35 °C, RH 30–70%). The results demonstrate that AI-driven environmental regulation, combined with bio-environmental monitoring, significantly extends seed longevity (12–15 months versus 6–9 months), minimizes spoilage, and reduces economic losses. The study concludes that AI-optimized smart storage provides a sustainable, reliable solution for post-harvest seed management, with potential applicability to a wide range of crop seeds.