SMK Dato Onn

Butterworth

Efficient Hydroponic System

MINDS

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
MINDS

Introduction

Materials & Procedure

Data and Observations

Discussions of Results

Conclusion

Future Expansions
Acknowledgement
Bibliography

MINDS

INTRODUCTION
Efficient Hydroponic System
The 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.
QUESTIONS
Can 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 nutrients
HYPOTHESIS
The main hypothesis is to save water usage and to control the production of algae.

VARIABLES
Independent variable: intensity of light
Dependent variable: the production of algae
Controlled variable: amount of water

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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 pots
5. Growing medium ( hydrotons, fertilizers )
6. Hydroponic nutrients
7. Plants ( 10 units )
8. Electric Heater
9. Cooler fans ( 2 units )
10.Translucent plastic sheets
11.Woods
12.Planks
13.Pipes
14.Elbow Joints
15.Arduino Uno
16.Timer

PROCEDURE
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1. 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.

MINDS

Data and results

Days

Volume of nutrient solution in litres*

Before

After

5.2

5.2

4.4

4.4

3.5

3.5

2.7

*reused nutrient solution to be changed every four days

Days
1
2
3
4

Percentage of algae growth in the hydroponics(%)

With blockage of light
Without blockage of light
3
3
2.1
3.5
1.4
4.2
0.9
5

MINDS

Discussion of results
Based 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.

MINDS

CONCLUSION
The 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.

MINDS

Future Expansion
1.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?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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10

Thanks 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 and
guidance in the compilation and preparation this project report.

Deepest thanks and appreciation to our parents, family, and others

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

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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11

Website:
1. Wallheimer, Brian (October 25, 2010). "Rice hulls a sustainable drainage option for
greenhouse growers". Purdue University. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
2. Understanding pH DutchMaster Hydroponics
3. HydroBuddy : An Open Source Multi-Platform Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator
4. HydroCal : A Java Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator
5. RR Kumar and JY Cho (2014) Reuse of hydroponic waste
solutionhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-014-3024-3
6. Understanding pH DutchMaster Hydroponics
7. HydroBuddy : An Open Source Multi-Platform Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator
8. HydroCal : A Java Hydroponic Nutrient Calculator
9. RR Kumar and JY Cho (2014) Reuse of hydroponic waste
solutionhttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-014-3024-3
10. (2011). "Growstones ideal alternative to perlite, parboiled rice hulls". American
Society for Horticultural
Sciencehttp://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/12/14/growstones.ideal.alternative.perlit
e.parboiled

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