user31897: I was working on a project in which I need to collect soil moisture data for a farm. For this, I need to collect soil moisture value from 70 sections of the farm on a single Arduino. But, this is not possible as there are just 6 analog pins on Arduino Uno and 16 analog pins on Arduino Mega. I have restrictions on the number Arduino that I can use that is just one due to monetary constrains. 
        The data would be collected at a delay of 5 seconds. The data gathered would be stored on SD card module which would be analyzed later.
      Any suggestion on how I can collect data from 70 analog sensors on a single Arduino would be highly appreciated. Are there any alternatives that I can use in place of Arduino? I heard that we could do something with AVR  atmega Microcontroller, am I correct? I don't know how to use Microcontroller; any useful resources will be highly appreciated. Thank You.

user31542: You should use some cheap chips to collect the data and use only one with big capacity to finally combine and process the data further.

Consider using a cheap small Arduino to build a "base module" that can do some of the tasks needed, build a bunch of them and hook them up to a R485 bus, and have one master Arduino control them all. That would be a much more flexible and expandable system. The cheapes Arduinos cost around 10$. If you build your own you could probably do it even cheaper.

Source:
[1] http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=73861.0 
(quote)
[2] https://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/RS485-Modules (bus)

user10794: There are fairly inexpensive chips called "analog multiplexers" which let you choose one input out of a range (8 or 16 is typical). You could take the reading, then switch to a different input, and take another reading.
I have a page about analog multiplexers.
Example of it in operation:

In this example you have 8 inputs, and by setting the A/B/C pins appropriately, one of the 8 is selected and appears at the O/I pin (output/input).
There is a 16-channel model as well. I see the 16-pin chip (74HC4067) available on eBay for $US 1.26 right now. You can get four of them (which would give you 80 inputs) for $4.88.
Also see the Wikipedia article on multiplexers.


For this, I need to collect soil moisture value from 70 sections of the farm on a single Arduino. 

Yes, well how will these sections get their data into one place? That is probably the bigger problem.
You may need to use a lengthy cable using RS485 (balanced signals) or maybe cheap radio transceivers.
Trying to use a "single Arduino" on what might be quite a large farm is the issue. It's not the Arduino's fault. You have to have some way of sending the data from the further points to where it is to be collected.

31897: <p>I was working on a project in which I need to collect soil moisture data for a farm. For this, I need to collect soil moisture value from 70 sections of the farm on a single Arduino. But, this is not possible as there are just 6 analog pins on Arduino Uno and 16 analog pins on Arduino Mega. I have restrictions on the number Arduino that I can use that is just one due to monetary constrains. 
        The data would be collected at a delay of 5 seconds. The data gathered would be stored on SD card module which would be analyzed later.
      Any suggestion on how I can collect data from 70 analog sensors on a single Arduino would be highly appreciated. Are there any alternatives that I can use in place of Arduino? I heard that we could do something with AVR  atmega Microcontroller, am I correct? I don't know how to use Microcontroller; any useful resources will be highly appreciated. Thank You.</p>
 31542: <p>You should use some cheap chips to collect the data and use only one with big capacity to finally combine and process the data further.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Consider using a cheap small Arduino to build a "base module" that can do some of the tasks needed, build a bunch of them and hook them up to a R485 bus, and have one master Arduino control them all. That would be a much more flexible and expandable system. The cheapes Arduinos cost around 10$. If you build your own you could probably do it even cheaper.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Source</strong>:</p>

<p>[1] <a href="http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=73861.0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=73861.0</a> 
(quote)</p>

<p>[2] <a href="https://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/RS485-Modules" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/RS485-Modules</a> (bus)</p>
 10794: <p>There are fairly inexpensive chips called "analog multiplexers" which let you choose one input out of a range (8 or 16 is typical). You could take the reading, then switch to a different input, and take another reading.</p>

<p>I have a <a href="http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11976" rel="nofollow noreferrer">page about analog multiplexers</a>.</p>

<p>Example of it in operation:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ADR45.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ADR45.png" alt="Multiplexer"></a></p>

<p>In this example you have 8 inputs, and by setting the A/B/C pins appropriately, one of the 8 is selected and appears at the O/I pin (output/input).</p>

<p>There is a 16-channel model as well. I see the 16-pin chip (74HC4067) available on eBay for $US 1.26 right now. You can get four of them (which would give you 80 inputs) for $4.88.</p>

<p>Also see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplexer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia article on multiplexers</a>.</p>

<hr>

<blockquote>
  <p>For this, I need to collect soil moisture value from 70 sections of the farm on a single Arduino. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes, well how will these sections get their data into one place? That is probably the bigger problem.</p>

<p>You may need to use a lengthy cable using <a href="http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11428" rel="nofollow noreferrer">RS485</a> (balanced signals) or maybe cheap radio transceivers.</p>

<p>Trying to use a "single Arduino" on what might be quite a large farm is the issue. It's not the Arduino's fault. You have to have some way of sending the data from the further points to where it is to be collected.</p>
