International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering, Computers, Information Technology and Applications (ICRTECITE-2018)

Seventh Sense Research Group www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 1

IoT Based Smart Aeroponics Monitoring System

Ashika Nasrin, Arun P, Bineesha P, Shabeeb PC, Navaneeth A*

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Eranad Knowledge City Technical Campus, Manjeri.

Kerala, India

ashikanasrin@gmail.com

Abstract—Agriculture is the main strength of the economy

worldwide, but it is drowning day by day. The input factors that

depend on the Agriculture Productivity are air, water, land, soil

etc. These are being degraded as this technical era is

developing. The soil used for agriculture is being contaminated

and the water usage for the irrigation purpose is very limited

now a days. Even the infertile land is a major threat faced by

this field. Hence there is a need to undertake these with

technological approach in Agriculture and thus we introduce

Aeroponics system. Aeroponics is a technique in which plants

grow in air or mist environment without the use of soil as

aggregate medium. This technique ensures that plants get all

nutrients without compromising on the integrity of the crop by

nutrient spraying and also accounts for ambient environmental

conditions such as humidity, light, electrical conductivity and

temperature. This will reduce human efforts and will save all

kinds of resource utilization. In this project we monitor the

humidity, temperature and pH range. The nutrients required

for the plants to grow are given by the nutrient spray and a

timer is made to automatically spray the nutrients whenever

required and a Light sensor, humidity sensor and electrical

conductivity sensors are used to monitor the system.

KEYWORDS: Aeroponics IoT, smart monitoring system.

1. INTRODUCTION

Agriculture plays a vital role in the development of

agricultural country. In India the major population depends

upon farming and one third of the nation’s capital comes

from farming. Issues concerning agriculture have been

always hindering the development of the country. The only

solution to this problem is smart agriculture by modernizing

the current traditional methods of agriculture. Hence the

project aims at making agriculture smart using automation

and IoT technologies. It also includes smart irrigation with

smart control and intelligent decision making based on

accurate real time field data. And a smart warehouse

management which includes temperature maintenance,

humidity maintenance and pH leveling and controlling.

Controlling of all these operations will be through any remote

smart device or computer connected to Internet and the

operations will be performed by interfacing sensors, Wi-Fi

modules and actuators with micro-controller. Plants are also

provided the requisite wavelength light during the night using

growing lights. Temperature and air humidity are controlled

by humidity and temperature sensors and a fogger is used to

control the same. The main motivation of this work is to

provide overview information about progressive techniques

and methods for producing green food with consideration for

environmental factors and energy efficiency.

In one of the papers, it proposed a design and

implementation of system prototype for plant, water and

nutrient distribution by using aeroponic system. This system

provides a series of sensor’s data. The control system is used

to manage actuators i.e. mist maker and fan for delivering

water moisture[1].

Another paper provided a model of smart greenhouse,

which helps the farmers to carry out the work in a farm

automatically without the usage of much manual inspection.

This work concentrates on the improvement of current

agricultural practices by using modern technologies for better

yield[2].

According to another paper ,by designing and

implementing wireless sensors and actuators network

(WSAN) for the control and monitoring of growing chambers

inside of a greenhouse , which are essential in cultivating

disease free G0 Potato seeds require strict treatment of water,

nutrients, and also conditioned temperature and humidity.[3].

The Study involves data collection /monitoring system,

control system, centralized server and multiplatform web-

based controlling /monitoring application for Agriculture

Facilities. This system is introduced to achieve maximum

optimization[4].

The sensor network was deployed in a commercial

aeroponic greenhouse that produces lettuces in a tropical

environment. Real time data enabled the operators to

characterize the operating parameters of the greenhouse and

also to respond immediately to any changes in the controlled

parameters[5].

The paper focuses on automatic monitored Aeroponic-

Irrigation System based on the Arduino’s free software

platform. These technique require continuous monitoring and

automation for proper operation. In addition to automate the

irrigation frequency several variables associated with the

nutrient solution and the proper functioning of the irrigation

system are monitored, like the pH and electrical conductivity

of the nutrient solution[6].

International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering, Computers, Information Technology and Applications (ICRTECITE-2018)

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II. METHODOLOGY

The Project aims at controlling and monitoring various

parameters such as Temperature, pH, moisture, light etc.

which affect the growing atmosphere of plants. It also

corrects and balances the pH as they vary.

The implementation of this project can be put together

after the complete analysis of the block diagram designed.

Basically in the Aeroponics system, the plants can be started

from vegetative cuttings by placing them in the openings on

top of the growing chamber. The stems are suspended in the

growing chamber. Seeds are started by placing them on

special mesh holders in the growing chamber. The

microcontroller releases a atomized spray mixture of water,

nutrients and growth hormones into the enclosed air

environment of the growing chamber. The microcontroller

supplies the timed spray intervals and duration for the plants.

The plants rapidly develop root systems and grow in a moist

air-rich environment. The spray provides just the right

amount of moisture to stimulate the plants allowing it to be

turgid as it develops. For monitoring and automating the

aeroponics system, an Arduino Atmega328 module

configuration was used as in fig.1.This was packaged on PVC

boxes with external connectors for instrumentation and

communications.

This Arduino based microcontroller is used for storing

data and, it is also in charge of microclimatic data

acquisition, Wi-Fi and server details. The nutritive solution

temperature sensors were protected on the PVC pipe. These

probes were immersed into the storage bins, looking that the

sensor was completely sealed. The probes were calibrated

appropriately. The LDR light sensors were installed on top of

the storage bins. The pH and EC sensors were installed in the

common pipe of the growing beds. The probes were

calibrated using pH and conductivity buffer solutions. The

accuracy of the measurements was tested against a pH and

EC meter using nutritive solutions at different concentrations.

The pH and EC electrodes were calibrated weekly to ensure

proper operation and service.

We designed a mobile interface that a user can easily

check every sensor’s value in each aeroponics system

through a service platform. This service platform stores the

sensor’s data such as temperature, humidity, pH balance,

nutrient levels, LED lights and water level. Referencing

figure 1, the user can view the current sensors’ data on the

service platform of the aeroponics system. We implemented a

module to gather each sensors data using IoT devices. Each

IoT device gathers sensor data (temperature, humidity, and

pH balance) during a certain time. After checking nutrition

levels if the nutrition level is below a certain threshold value

the module will trigger a relay. The connected dosing pumps

start to work to add nutrition in the aeroponics system. If the

nutrition level is over a certain threshold value it will stop

adding the nutrients in the aeroponics system. The

submersible pump process works the same as the dosing

pump process.

Fig: 1

International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering, Computers, Information Technology and Applications (ICRTECITE-2018)

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III.IMPLEMENTATION

The implementation pattern phase involves putting the

project plan into action .We implemented a module

to gather all the necessary sensor’s data using IoT

devices. We use the Arduino based microcontroller

for storing.

A. Atmega328

The Atmel 8-bit AVR RISC-based microcontroller

combines 32 KB ISP flash memory with read-while-write

capabilities, 1 KB EEPROM, 2 KB SRAM, 23 general

purpose I/O lines, 32 general purpose working registers,

three flexible timer/counters with compare modes, internal

and external interrupts, serial programmable USART, a

byte-oriented 2-wire serial interface, SPI serial port, 6-

channel 10-bit A/D converter, programmable watchdog

timer with internal oscillator, and five software selectable

power saving modes. The device operates between 1.8-5.5

volts. The device achieves throughput approaching 1 MIPS

per MHz.

B. Analog EC Sensor

An analog EC meter specially designed for

Arduino controllers and has built-in simple, convenient and

practical connection and features. When done the

connection according to the diagram, then with the program

control, it’s very convenient to measure the conductivity

value. Conductivity is the ability of substance to carry the

current. It is the reciprocal of resistivity. In liquid, we often

use the reciprocal of resistance that is conductance, to

measure the conductive capacity. The conductivity of water

is an important indicator in the measurement of water

quality. It can reflect the level of electrolytes present in the

water. Depending on the concentration of the electrolyte,

the conductivity of the aqueous solution is different.

C. Analog pH Sensor

This is an Analog pH Meter Kit with industrial

real-time online electrode, specially designed for Arduino

controllers. It use an industry electrode and has built-in

simple, convenient, practical connection and long life (up to

1 year), which makes it very suitable for long term online

monitoring. It has an LED which works as the Power

Indicator, a BNC connector and PH2.0 sensor interface. To

use it, just connect the pH sensor with BND connector, then

plug the PH2.0 interface into the analog input port of any

Arduino controller. If programmed, you will get the pH

value easily.

D. LDR Light Sensor

In order to detect the intensity of light or darkness, we

use a sensor called an LDR The LDR is a special type of

resistor which allows higher voltages to pass through it

(low resistance) whenever there is a high intensity of light,

and passes a low voltage (high resistance) whenever it is

dark. We can take advantage of this LDR property and use

it in our DIY Arduino LDR sensor project.

E. GROW LIGHT

A grow light or plant light is an artificial light source,

generally an electric light, designed to stimulate plant

growth by emitting an electromagnetic

spectrum appropriate for photosynthesis. Grow lights are

used in applications where there is either no naturally

occurring light, or where supplemental light is required. For

example, in the winter months when the available hours of

daylight may be insufficient for the desired plant growth,

lights are used to extend the time the plants receive light. If

plants do not receive enough light, they will grow long and

spindly.

Grow lights either attempt to provide a light

spectrum similar to that of the sun, or to provide a spectrum

that is more tailored to the needs of the plants being

cultivated. Outdoor conditions are mimicked with varying

color, temperatures and spectral outputs from the grow

light, as well as varying the lumen output (intensity) of the

lamps. Depending on the type of plant being cultivated, the

stage of cultivation (e.g. the germination/vegetative phase

or the flowering/fruiting phase), and

the photoperiod required by the plants, specific ranges

of spectrum, luminous efficacy and color temperature are

desirable for use with specific plants and time periods.

IV.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

• First, the sensors will sense all the values from the

chambers and these sensors interfaced with

Arduino microcontroller which will control as per

the requirements and is monitored using the

ESP8266 Wi-Fi Module.

• Second, we are providing an artificial Light

system in case of a dark atmosphere.

• Third, pH is monitored as well as controlled by

adjusting the acidity and alkalinity of the solution.

• The Hardware is interfaced with all the sensors on

the board.

• The microcontroller ATmega328 can be used as a

data acquisition system for differential output

sensors like EC sensor, pH sensor, Light sensor

and Temperature sensor.

• The deployment of information and alarms helps

to take appropriate control actions for the better

productivity of crops.

International Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering, Computers, Information Technology and Applications (ICRTECITE-2018)

Seventh Sense Research Group www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 4

• With Wi-Fi-Modulo ESP8266, it helps to send the

alarm signal directly to the final user.

• The system provides information for the Android

Application to store the gathered information from

the IoT devices using sensors within the system.

V. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE SCOPE

The Smart Aeroponics Monitoring system based

on an Arduino platform results in an improvised and

advanced development in the field of Aeroponics. .On

further developments and improvisation this system can

lead to a commercial leader in indoor farming. It promises

to be the best means of effective growing plants in arid

lands and for urban dwellers that live in apartments. For

budding Farm ventures in high value crops, the cost of

setting up an Aeroponic Nursery may turn out to be cheaper

than acquiring a large plot of land to farm on.

In this paper, we have presented an automated

aeroponics system using IoT devices. We designed and

implemented an automated aeroponics system to collect

each sensor’s data in the system. We used a Arduino based

microcontroller and designed the system to measure and

control the environmental factors necessary to reach our

optimal agricultural needs. We can also link this work with

a mobile application, service platform, and a control

module on an IoT device that the user can monitor and

control the Aeroponics system remotely. Our proposed

system is expected to be a promising application to help

farmers increase the production of organic crops in a smart

farming system.

VII. REFERENCES

[1] Muhammad Ikhsan Sani, Simon sidebar ,Ari’s punjud

kurniawan, Lakshmi jauhari. “Web Based Monitoring and

Montrol System for Aeroponics Growing Chamber”,

ICCEREC ,2016, Telkom University, Indonesia.

[2] Ravi Kishore Kodali, Vishal Jain and Sumit Karagwal.

“IoT Based Smart Greenhouse”, NIT Warangal

[3] Pujo Laksono, Irman Idris, M.Ikhsan Sani and Dhamma

N.P. “Lab Prototype of Wireless Monitoring and Control

for seed Potatoes Growing Chamber”, ISSN 2227-3026.

[4] P Mithunesh, Kiran Gupta, Sujata Ghule, Prof. Shailesh

Hule, “Aeroponic Based Controlled Environment Based

Farming System”. IOSR Journal of Computer Engineering

(IOSR-JCE)

[5] Leong Boon Tik, Chan Toong, Khaun, Sellappan

Palaippan, “Monitoring of an Aeorponic Greenhouse with a

Sensor Network” ,IJCSNS VOL.9 No.3,March 2009.

[6] A.P.Montoya,F.A.Obando, J G Morales and G Vargas

,”Autoamtic Aeroponic Irrigation System based on

Arduino’s Platform”,IOP conf.series: Journal of Physics

:Conf. series 850(2017).