Scheduling a smart hydroponic system to raise water use efficiency

Abstract

The presented study aims to create smart hydroponics scheduling to raise water use efficiency of the cucumber crop in a greenhouse by setting up and building a smart Wi-Fi controller unit based on the limited moisture sensing level in the growth media (sand). The water retention materials was added to the growth media (sand) like, composite and perlite compared to sand only as a control. The experimental study was carried out at Tractors and Farm Machinery Research and Test Station, Alexandria Governorate. The results showed that using composite and perlite materials led to increase the moisture content for growth media compared with sand only. The lowest water consumption (Wt) was 115 L/m 2 by using composite treatment, while the highest Wt was 211 L/m 2 with sand-only treatment. The highest cucumber yield (Y) was 19.7 kg/m 2 by using the perlite, while the lowest Y was 12.7 kg/m 2 with sand only. The highest water use efficiency (WUE) was 167 kg/m 3 by using the treatment of composite, while the lowest WUE was 60 kg/m 3 with sand-only treatment. In contrast, WUE increased by (177, 158 %) by using composite and perlite materials with sand as growth media compared with sand only. According to the obtained results, applying a smart scheduling system recommend based on the Wi-Fi technique with composite to improve water retention in the sandy media. Thus, this led to save water in the hydroponics and raising yield and WUE.