SMK Dato Onn Butterworth

Efficient Hydroponic System

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to help the farmers to have a better hydroponic system. Our project will bring lots of benefits to farmers who practice hydroponic farming. This project will help to improve the water usage in hydroponic farming. Water which is used for watering the plants will be reused for a given period of time and changed at regular intervals. This may prevent overwatering or under watering issues.

Plants will grow without having to face the irregular humidity. Interior humidity can be controlled by a humidity sensor placed in the hydroponic vicinity. By doing this, water consumption can be kept under control.

The hydroponic farm will be equipped with a well-designed ventilation to allow air flow in and out regularly. Ventilation is very essential in supplying sufficient gases and aiding in the absorption of water and nutrients.

Algal bloom is a major complication faced by most hydroponic farmers. This is almost unavoidable. Therefore, our project has come up with this innovative idea to reduce the growth of algae in the hydroponic. Light is blocked thoroughly from reaching the surface of the roots or the nutrient reservoir. This measure will definitely help to reduce the algal bloom and subsequently improving the efficiency of the hydroponics.

The basic hypothesis of this project is saving water usage as Malaysia is facing water crisis during dry season. In addition, the algae growth prevents farmers from getting more crop and healthy plants. This is due to the characteristics of algae which suck the nutrients in the water that is supposed to be channeled to the plants for the algae to grow. Our project will definitely help the farmers society to improve in their crop and their lives as well. Besides giving benefits to the farmers, our project also offers a great advantage to the public community.

Table of contents

Introduction3

Materials & Procedure4

Data and Observations 5

Discussions of Results6

Conclusion7

Future Expansions

Acknowledgement

Bibliography

INTRODUCTIONEfficient Hydroponic SystemThe basic purpose of this project is to help the Malaysian farmers to have a better hydroponic system. This project will help the farmers to grow crops efficiently as it helps to decrease the growth of algae in this system. It also saves the water usage by reusing the water in a cycle. Moreover,this hydroponic system is designed to have a better ventilation which leads the plants to have good absorption of water and nutrients. As for this, healthy crops will be produced in a larger quantity.

QUESTIONSCan the farmers have a efficient hydroponic system without wastage of water?

OBJECTIVES To reduce water usage and reuse the water in a cycle in hydroponic system To prepare an efficient hydroponic system by preventing the algae growth To have a better air ventilation for absorption of water and nutrientsHYPOTHESISThe main hypothesis is to save water usage and to control the production of algae.

VARIABLESIndependent variable: intensity of lightDependent variable: the production of algaeControlled variable: amount of water

Materials:-

1. Water pump (Atman series submersible water pump)2. Tubing:-a. Gas hose tubing (1.5 m)b. Clear tubing (1 m)3. Water pail ( used as reservoir)4. Plastic nursery pots5. Growing medium ( hydrotons, fertilizers )6. Hydroponic nutrients7. Plants ( 10 units )8. Electric Heater9. Cooler fans ( 2 units )10. Translucent plastic sheets11. Woods12. Planks13. Pipes14. Elbow Joints15. Arduino Uno16. Timer

PROCEDURE1. The green hydroponics system is assembled with following steps :-a. This system consists of five growing tubes made of 2.5 PVC pipe, a stand structure made of woods, a 5 gallon nutrient tank (pail) and a submersible pump. b. The growing tubes are connected vertically through elbow joints so the water can be channeled from one growing bed to another.c. The nutrient medium will be pushed from the reservoir with high suction so that the nutrients channeled will have more oxygen concentration.d. The tank will be placed in a lower ground than the hydroponic system set-up.2. The nutrients were mixed in the water and the pump were let to circulate for 30 minutes so the mixture will be mixed well.3. Plants were added in the growing bed. 4. Plants were placed in the pots and roots is dragged out from the pots. Hydrotons were placed in the nursery pots to hold the plants.5. After that, the pump is turned on and the system was monitored daily for 8 days to identify leakages and overflows.6. Finally, the plant growth were monitored daily and the plants were monitored for pesticides.

Data and resultsDaysVolume of nutrient solution in litres*

BeforeAfter

165.2

25.24.4

34.43.5

43.52.7

*reused nutrient solution to be changed every four days

DaysPercentage of algae growth in the hydroponics(%)

With blockage of lightWithout blockage of light

133

22.13.5

31.44.2

40.95

Discussion of resultsBased on the results above:1. How are the nurients supplied to the plants in the hydroponics?The nutrients solution is channelled to the hydroponics through piping system which is incorporated with a timer to monitor the watering of plants from time to time. Therefore, plant watering is automated and does not need any human aid.2. How do we prevent algae growth in the hydroponics?Light is the most essential part in algae growth. Without light, algae can never grow or breed. So, light is blocked to its utmost from touching the roots of the plants in the hydroponics to prevent algae growth.3. Why is the nutrient solution changed every four days?The nutrient solution is changed very four days because plants in the hydroponics absorb the nutrients as the solution is passed through the system. Therefore, the nutrients have to be maintained in the solution to provide a healthier environment to the plants.4. How is this project beneficial towards the farmers society?Generally, farmers use a humongous space to fit all their crops through hydroponics. This projects used a stack-up structure which can hold many plants per unit area. Therefore, it helps them to reduce cost on building facilities and focus on developing the hydroponics as well.

CONCLUSIONThe Efficient Hydroponic System is definitely a breakthrough in the world of hydroponics. Our motive to help the farmers society is achieved. Water crisis faced by the country due to the Elnino effect can also be averted.Through Efficient Hydroponics System, water is not wasted by any means as nutrient medium is stored in the reservoir and reused to maximise the optimal usage of nutrients for the plants. Our project is also highly affordable as the materials and equipments used to build our project is generally cheap compared to the products in the market.

Future Expansion1.How to prevent the ultraviolet ray from damaging the chloroplast contents in the cell?2.Which alternante nutrient can be used to prevent the alage from growing?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThanks to Creator, whom with His willing giving me the opportunity to complete this project which is title Efficient Hydroponic System. This project report was prepared for this Young Inventors Challenge Firstly, I would like to express my deepest thanks to my teachers, as my supervisor who had guided us. They also had given valuable information, suggestions andguidance in the compilation and preparation this project report.

Deepest thanks and appreciation to our parents, family, and othersfor their cooperation, encouragement, constructive suggestion and full of support for theproject and report completion, from the beginning till the end. Also thanks to all of our friendand everyone, that have been contributed by supporting our work and help us during theproject progress till it is fully completed.

BIBLIOGRAPHYWebsite:1. Wallheimer, Brian (October 25, 2010)."Rice hulls a sustainable drainage option for greenhouse growers". Purdue University. Retrieved August 30, 2012.2. Understanding pHDutchMaster Hydroponics3. HydroBuddy: An Open Source Multi-Platform Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator4. HydroCal: A Java Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator5. RR Kumar and JY Cho (2014) Reuse of hydroponic waste solutionhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-014-3024-36. Understanding pHDutchMaster Hydroponics7. HydroBuddy: An Open Source Multi-Platform Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator8. HydroCal: A Java Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator9. RR Kumar and JY Cho (2014) Reuse of hydroponic waste solutionhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-014-3024-310. (2011). "Growstones ideal alternative to perlite, parboiled rice hulls". American Society for Horticultural Sciencehttp://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/12/14/growstones.ideal.alternative.perlite.parboiled

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