Journal of Advances in Electrical Devices

Volume 4 Issue 2

Solar Based Hydroponics Cultivation

D.Sarathkumar
Assistant Professor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, Tamilnadu, India
Email: sarath.eee@kongu.ac.in

Abstract
The main aim of the project is to grow a plant without a soil by using solar supply. It uses the
90% of water efficiently. As compared to soil cultivation, the production increases by 3 to 10
times. Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrients
solution in water solvents usually an inorganic substrate with rock wool to be the most
common worldwide. Agriculture in the growing countries faces some serious challenges in
the coming decades that include: competition for water, energy resources, rising costs,
increased world population, competition for international markets, changes in climate,
environmental impact and uncertainties in the effectiveness of the current European policies
as regards adaptation strategies. Controlled environments become an important tool in
agriculture production and study chains. Hydroponics is a promising technology and
becomes very popular in the area of agriculture, specifically in urban farming. Hydroponic
systems have found a rapid development and widespread use in recent years. In hydroponics
cultivation, the recording of several parameters helps cultivators to develop optimal
conditions for the growth of plants. In this paper, we present a low-cost, high-reliability
prototype for real-time measurements in hydroponics cultivation.

Keywords: Hydroponics Tray, Humidity Sensor, Buzzer, Arduino Uno, Solar Panel Array.

INTRODUCTION time taken will be high.

The balcony agriculture and family • It is not eco-friendly because supply to
farming have more requirements for such a the motor is from main.
technique, which can not only increase the • Nutrient supply to the plant and
ornamental value, but also achieve an eco- draining of excess water is also by
friendly system. It is an inexpensive human.
symbiotic cycle of plant. So, the system
can save water more efficiently. The whole DRAWBACKS OF EXISTING
process is so complex and time- METHOD
consuming. Based on the above • Continuous monitoring is required.
shortcomings, the automatic control • Need of manual work is more.
system is proposed. Consequently, it is • Cost is high.
very necessary to design a smart monitor • Crops requiring frequent watering
and control system, especially for people needs more human effort to maintain
who travel frequently and there is no need water flow.
of frequent monitoring of water.
LITERATURE SURVEY
EXISTING METHOD Mendez G.R., Mukho padhyay S.C [2016],
• Monitoring of hydroponics plant is by “A Wi-Fi Based Smart Wireless Sensor
human. Network for an Agricultural
• Frequent supply of water is required so Environment”. This existing method is

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 Journal of Advances in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 2

used only for monitoring purpose, Signal solar based supply and automatic control
problem. of water flow. So, the cultivation of the
plant can be increased faster than soil-
Ferrndez-Pastor FJ, Garca-Chamizo JM, based cultivation. By using solar we can
Nieto-Hidalgo M, Mora-Pascual J, Mora- reduce the cost of electricity and the space
Martnez J [2017]. “Developing Ubiquitous for the cultivation.
Sensor Network Platform Using Internet of
Things: Application in Precision BLOCK DIAGRAM
Agriculture”. This existing method is Used The proposed system consists of four
only for security purpose. It is expensive. units:
Solar Panel, Relay, Arduino Uno, Pump.
PROPOSED SYSTEM The entire process is controlled by means
In our system we are going to implement of arduino programming.

Figure 1: Proposed Block Diagram

The block diagram shows the working of solar supply. It uses the 90% of water
the project. The supply to the system is efficiently. As compared to soil
through solar and normal main supply. cultivation, the production increases by 3
Then the solar energy is taken in the to 10 times. The method of growing plants
battery and it is converted into power. The without soil by using mineral nutrients
motor gets on or off through the relay. The solution in water solvents.
electric circuit may be automatic and
manual mode. The humidity sensor and EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
The main aim of the project is to grow a
timer are connected to the arduino UNO.
plant without a soil by using solar supply.
Then upto the signal level the pump gets
It uses the 90% of water efficiently. As
on or off. compared to soil cultivation, the
production increases by 3 to 10 times.
HARDWARE IMPLEMENTATION Hydroponics method of growing plants
Working: The main aim of the project is without soil by using mineral nutrients
to grow a plant without a soil by using solution in water solvents.

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 Journal of Advances in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 2

Figure 2: Experimental setup

HUMIDITY SENSOR moisture and air temperature. Relative

A humidity sensor (or hygrometer) humidity is the ratio of actual moisture in the
senses, measures and reports the relative air to the highest amount of moisture that can
humidity in the air. It therefore measures both be held at that air temperature.

Figure 3: Humidity Sensor

In agriculture, Irrigation techniques like drip important role in the proper growth of the
irrigation need accurate moisture content for plant. Other areas where humidity control is
plants. Also, the moisture in the soil plays an required is indoor vegetation.

Figure 4: Nutrients Chart

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 Journal of Advances in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 2

BUZZER FEATURES AND • rated current: <30MA

SPECIFICATIONS • sound type: continuous beep
• rated voltage: 6v DC • resonant frequency: ~2300 Hz
• operating voltage: 4-8V DC • small and neat sealed packag

Figure 5: Buzzer

SOLAR PANEL ARRAY It can be used in several applications

Depending on construction, photovoltaic including marine, dry camp, and other off-
modules can produce electricity from a grid applications. It has the capability of
range of frequencies of light, but usually withstanding heavy snow and strong wind
cannot cover the entire solar range loads. Very reliable product and sure to
(specifically, ultraviolet, infrared and low provide long service life because of its
or diffused light). Hence, much of the multi layered sheet laminations which also
incident sunlight energy is wasted by solar enhances the cell performance. Excellent
modules, and they can give far higher performance in even low-light
efficiencies if illuminated environments. Corrosion-resistant
with monochromatic light. We have used a aluminium frame for extended outdoor
Power House 50W 12V Polycrystalline use, allowing the panels to last for
Solar Panel PWHP50 is a compact solar decades. The panel is anti-reflective, high
panel with easy installation setup. Perfect transparency, low iron-tempered glass with
choice for On-Grid and Off-Grid systems. enhanced stiffness and impact resistance.

Figure 6: Solar Panel

CONCLUSION & FUTURE SCOPE automation in various processes such as to

CONCLUSION check moisture automatically and
From this project we conclude accordingly supply water for particular
implementation of hydroponic system time interval. This System uses less water
using control circuit. It describes and fertilizers as compared to soil system.

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 Journal of Advances in Electrical Devices
Volume 4 Issue 2

FUTURE SCOPE 6. Kumar RR and Cho JY [2014] "Reuse

In Future consequently, it is very of Hydroponic Waste Solution"
necessary to design a smart monitor and Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
control system, especially for people who http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007
travel frequently and there is no need of /s11356-01430243.
frequent monitoring of water. In the 7. Asumadu J A, Smith B, Dogan N S,
Proposed system implemented by using Loretan P A and Aglan H [1996]
ArduinoUNO controller. To improve the "Microprocessor-Based Instrument for
performance of system, possible to Hydroponic Growth Chambers Used in
implement the advanced controllers. Ecological Life Support Systems
Instrumentation and Measurement
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