Solar Powered Automated Fertigation Control System for Cucumis Melo L. Cultivation in Green House

摘要

Production of vegetables and fruits in Malaysia using fertigation methods been experiencing accelerated growth. Fertigation allow farmers to automatically deliver adequate nutrient quantity and concentration through drip irrigation to plants active root area throughout the growing season. Conventionally, three separate preset digital timers are used to turn ON/OFF injector and irrigation pumps for fertilizer mixing and setting daily frequency of irrigation. The quality of nutrients solution level is manually checked using Electrical Conductivity (EC) meter to determine quality of the nutrient solution. This project was developed and tested to provide low cost solution for precise control of fertilizer mixing and irrigation to local fanners. A predefined EC value will be used as single input that control all automated processes in cucumis melo L. cultivation using fertigation system. The developed system powered totally by solar power system and tested on its effectiveness to control the nutrient mixing process and injecting nutrient solutions according to plants growth rate and in the same time monitor all key parameters in fertigation system.