Portable automatic nutrient mixing based on microcontroller for hydroponic vegetable cultivation

Abstract

The growth of the hydroponic vegetable cultivation industry has become the main focus in meeting increasing food needs. However, proper and consistent nutritional management is necessary to achieve optimal results in hydroponic cultivation. This research describes the design of a microcontroller-based portable automatic nutrient mixing system designed to simplify and increase the efficiency of hydroponic vegetable cultivation. This system uses a microcontroller as the system’s brain to regulate nutrient concentrations automatically. The nutrients needed for hydroponic plants, such as liquid fertilizer, humic acid, and macro-micro nutrients, can be measured and mixed according to predetermined parameters. The success of this system is supported by the EC (Conductive Capability) sensors integrated into the system. The advantage of this nutrient mixing system is its portability, which allows users to organize hydroponic vegetable cultivation in various locations without significant limitations. The system can also be monitored and controlled remotely via a mobile app or computer, allowing users to control their plants’ nutrition even when they are away. Experimental results show that this system can produce a consistent nutrient mixture that meets the needs of hydroponic plants. Thus, this microcontroller-based portable automatic nutrient mixing system can effectively support the sustainable and efficient growth of the hydroponic vegetable cultivation industry.