IoT Based Efficient Hydroponics System
P Usha
1 a
, Uday Malagar
1 b
, Yashwanth Reddy V
1 c
, Sanjay C K
1 d
, Vishnu Prasad
1 e
1
Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Karnataka, India.
Keywords: Hydroponic system, lettuce plant, Artificial light, Automated nutrient Supply, IoT, Arduino Uno, ESP32.
Abstract: Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water based nutrient solution instead of soil. The key to
sustainable agriculture is hydroponic farming, this saves water, land, and resources, gives better yield than
conventional method. The integration of IoT in hydroponics improves intelligence, accuracy, and efficiency.
The results of IoT based efficient hydroponic system developed for lettuce plant is illustrated in this paper.
1 INTRODUCTION TO
HYDROPONICS
Due to rapid increase in population, urbanization,
and industrialization the per capita land is decreasing.
The soil fertility has reached saturation level, because
of this crop yield is not increasing even after the
increased application of fertilizers (Ayaz M,2019).
The unpredictable weather and climate conditions,
rise in temperatures and poor water management are
posing menace to food production by conventional
method of agriculture (Harikrishna R B,2021).
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants
without soil, where plants are grown in nutrient-rich
water-based solutions (Palande,2018). In hydroponic
systems, plants receive their essential nutrients
directly from the water, which is carefully balanced
and supplied to the plant roots. The roots are initially
grown by an inert growing medium like coconut coir.
This soil-less cultivation technique allows for precise
control over plant nutrition, water usage, and
environmental conditions such as temperature,
humidity, and lighting. Hydroponics can be
implemented in various setups, including vertical
towers, nutrient film technique (NFT) channels, or
deep-water culture (DWC) systems (Ramos C,2019).
It offers advantages such as efficient resource
utilization, faster growth rates, higher crop yields, and
the ability to grow plants in areas with limited access
a
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3621-0942
b
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9663-7297
c
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5158-2956
d
https://orcid.org/ 0009-0003-4474-7536
e
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0276-0373
to arable land.NFT in hydroponics refers to the
Nutrient Film Technique, a hydroponic system where
a thin film of nutrient-rich water flows over plant
roots. It promotes optimal nutrient uptake and root
development, especially for leafy greens and herbs.
The integration of IoT (Internet of Things)
technology has revolutionized hydroponics by
offering greater control, automation, and efficiency in
managing hydroponic systems (Chetan D M,2015).
This paper demonstrates the results of IoT based
hydroponics systems developed for lettuce plant.
2 METHODOLOGIES
The methodology followed for the mechanical
construction of hydroponics system is explained
below.
2.1 Mechanical construction of
hydroponics system
Fig 1: Mechanical construction.
100
Usha, P., Malagar, U., V., Y., K., S. and Prasad, V.
IoT Based Efficient Hydroponics System.
DOI: 10.5220/0012522200003808
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Intelligent and Sustainable Power and Energy Systems (ISPES 2023), pages 100-106
ISBN: 978-989-758-689-7
Proceedings Copyright © 2024 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.

The mechanical construction of an IoT-based
NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) hydroponics system
typically involves several key components:
1. Growing/NFT Channels: The NFT
hydroponics system consists of 3 channels with 6
holes each with a distance of 15cm from centre to
centre, where the plants are placed. These channels
are typically made of food-grade PVC or other
suitable materials that are resistant to water and
nutrient solutions.
2. Support Structure: A sturdy support
structure which is made up of supporting rods are
connected with the help of the clamp and the rods are
made up of galvanized iron. These supporting
structure is needed to hold the NFT channels in place.
This structure should be able to withstand the weight
of the plants, nutrient solution, and other system
components.
3. Pump and Reservoir: A submersible pump of
14W power which can pump water up to a height of
1.4m is used to circulate the nutrient solution from a
reservoir to the top of the NFT channels. The
reservoir which can hold up to 30L of nutrient
solution, which is continuously recirculated through
the system. The pump ensures a steady flow of the
nutrient solution over the plant roots.
4. Return System: At the end of the channels, a
return system collects the excess nutrient solution that
has passed through the root zone. This solution is then
redirected back to the reservoir with the help of PVC
pipes which will be recirculated.
5. Sensors and Control System: IoT integration
involves the installation of sensors to monitor various
parameters such as pH, EC (Electrical Conductivity),
temperature, and humidity (Michael G W,2021).
These sensors transmit data to a control system,
which can be a microcontroller or a central computer.
The control system processes the data and triggers
appropriate actions, such as adjusting nutrient levels
or activating irrigation cycles.
6. Lighting System: In indoor or low-light
environments, an artificial lighting system (PAR
spectrum light) is installed to provide the necessary
light intensity and spectrum for optimal plant growth.
The mechanical construction of an IoT-based NFT
hydroponics system should prioritize durability,
functionality, and ease of maintenance. It is essential
to ensure proper sealing, secure connections, and
efficient nutrient circulation to create an effective and
reliable system.
2.2 Proposed IoT based hydroponics
system
IoT sensors enable real-time monitoring of
parameters such as water pH, nutrient solution levels,
temperature, and humidity, providing instant access
to vital information for timely interventions.
Automation and remote-control capabilities allow
for tasks such as water pump scheduling and nutrient
adjustment based on plant needs, while remote
monitoring facilitates system management from
anywhere. The data collected by IoT sensors enables
data-driven decision-making, optimizing cultivation
strategies and effective resource usage.
The Fig.2 shows the block diagram of the IoT
based hydroponics system:
Fig 2: Block diagram of proposed hydroponics system.
ESP32 microcontroller - Used as a
microcontroller to store data and also helps the
system to connect to Wi-Fi through which monitoring
and controlling of sensor values is possible. In this
project, data from ultrasonic sensor, EC sensor and
temperature and humidity sensor is uploaded to blynk
application using esp32 board.
Ultrasonic sensor - Ultrasonic sensors are
electronic devices that utilize emitted ultrasonic
sound waves to determine the distance to a target,
subsequently converting those waves into electrical
signals. In this project, it is used to measure water
level in the container. As water reaches to a level
which is 7cm from the sensor, nutrients will be
dispensed into the container.
EC sensor or Nutrient sensor - An EC
(Electrical Conductivity) sensor is a device used to
measure the electrical conductivity of a solution. EC
sensors are commonly used in hydroponics,
aquaponics, and other applications where precise
monitoring of nutrient levels in water is essential.
IoT Based Efficient Hydroponics System
101

pH sensor - A pH sensor is a device used to
measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution by
determining its pH value. pH is a measure of the
concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in a solution and
indicates the level of acidity or alkalinity on a
logarithmic scale from 0 to 14. pH value of 7 is
considered neutral, and values less than 7 indicate
acidity. Values above 7 indicate alkalinity. In
hydroponics, pH sensor is used to measure pH of
nutrient solution.
ESP8266 microcontroller - Used as a
microcontroller to store data and also helps the
system to connect to Wi-Fi through which monitoring
and controlling of sensor values is possible. In this
project, data from pH sensor is uploaded to blynk
application using esp8266 board.
4-Channel relay module - A 4-channel relay
module is a device that allows you to control multiple
electrical circuits using a microcontroller or other
control signal. In this project, this device is used to
control nutrient dispenser pumps and pH up and down
solutions.
Nutrient pump - Used to dispense nutrients
(NPK) into the main container of the hydroponics
system. These pumps are also used to dispense pH up-
down solutions into the container to balance pH.
Blynk application - Blynk is a popular IoT
(Internet of Things) platform that allows us to easily
create mobile applications to control and monitor our
connected devices. In this project, Blynk application
is used to monitor and control nutrient dispensing, pH
values, EC values in real time.
Arduino uno - The Arduino Uno is a
microcontroller board based on the ATmega328. In
this project, Arduino uno is used to store data from
pH sensor and transmit the data to esp8266. Since
Arduino uno does not have Wi-Fi connecting
capability, we use serial communication between
Arduino uno and esp8266.
BME280 - The BME280 is a temperature and
humidity sensor particularly developed for mobile
uses and wearables where size and low power
consumption are crucial design parameters.
2.3 Circuit connections of the proposed
hydroponics system
Fig 3: Circuit connection of hydroponics system.
Circuit diagram consists of ESP32
microcontroller and ultrasonic sensor, RTC module
and two 4-channel relay modules are connected to
esp32 microcontroller. Nutrient dispenser pumps are
controlled using relay module. RTC module is used
to get real time data which is used to dispense
nutrients. Battery is connected in series between
pump and relay module.
2.4 Flow chart of control mechanism of
IoT based hydroponics system
Fig 4: Flow chart of control mechanism proposed
hydroponics system.
Lights (PAR Spectrum lights) and air stone are
turned on, which will be continuously switched ON
for 10 hours per day. These lights are an alternative
for sunlight, which helps the plants to grow. Hence
both turn on and turn off periods are equally
important. Pump the nutrient water from the reservoir
to the NFT channel for 2 minutes every 2 hours. This
nutrient water forms a thin layer in NFT channel
which touches the root of the plants and nutrients is
absorbed by these roots which helps in plant growth.
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By using RTC module, we get the real time, date,
and day. Data from the RTC module is used to
dispense nutrients and nutrient requirement will
increase week by week as the plant grows. So, it is
suggested to increase the nutrient concentration by
0.5ml of NPK every week. After one week, the
quantity of nutrient solution decreases in nutrient tank
(reservoir), then we add water till it reaches 20 litres
in the tank and it is measured by using an ultrasonic
sensor. Based on the amount of water added in the
tank, we calculate the amount of nutrients (NPK) that
has to be dispensed for the present week by using the
formula: (amount of water added) * (an increment of
0.5ml of NPK solution that was dispensed in to the
tank in previous week). Dispensing of nutrients is
achieved by controlling relay modules. Air stone
helps in mixing of nutrients with water in the nutrient
tank.
After mixing nutrients with water, pH of nutrient
solution has to be checked which should be between
5.5 and 6.5 for lettuce plant and when the pH is less
than 5.5, pH up solution has to be added which
increases the pH values until it maintains the
optimum value. Similarly, when pH crosses more
than 6.5, pH down solution has to be added which
decreases the pH of the solution.
2.5 Control Flow of the proposed
hydroponics system
Fig 5: Control flow of hydroponics system.
The control flow of an IoT-based efficient
hydroponics system typically involves several
components working together to monitor and control
various aspects of the hydroponic setup. Here is a
general overview of the control flow. The system
utilizes various sensors to collect data about
environmental conditions such as temperature,
humidity, light, pH, and nutrient levels in the
hydroponic system. These sensors can be connected
to a microcontroller (ESP32, Arduino and ESP8266),
which gathers the sensor data. The collected sensor
data is then transmitted to a central hub or cloud
server using wireless communication protocols such
as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular networks. This allows
for real-time or periodic data updates from the
hydroponic system to the cloud. The control actions
determined by the users are sent back to the
hydroponic system via the IoT device or
microcontroller. Actuators such as pumps or relays
are used to carry out the control actions. For example,
nutrient pumps can be activated to deliver the right
amount of nutrients to the plants. The system
continuously monitors the effects of the control
actions by collecting feedback data from sensors.
This feedback data is used to evaluate the impact of
the control actions on the hydroponic system's
performance. It allows for continuous monitoring and
adjustment of the control to ensure optimal plant
growth and resource efficiency. The IoT-based
hydroponics system often includes a user interface,
such as a mobile application in our case Blynk
application, that enables users to remotely monitor
and control the system. This allows users to access
real-time data, receive alerts or notifications, and
manually intervene if necessary.
3 ANALYSIS OF DEVELOPED
HYDROPONICS SYSTEM
Analysis of the hydroponics
system is explained below.
3.1 Data uploading to cloud during
specific duration
Data from sensors are uploaded to the cloud
(Blynk application) using esp32 microcontroller.
Below table shows the data being uploaded to
blynk application for a duration of 5 minutes:
Table 1: Data uploaded from sensors to Blynk application
during 9:00am to 9:05am.
IoT Based Efficient Hydroponics System
103

From the above table it is clearly observed that
during 5 minutes duration, the data that is uploaded to
Blynk application from ultrasonic sensor, pH sensor
and temperature sensor are almost constant. Lettuce
plant requires an optimum temperature of 18-24°C
and from the table we can see that temperature sensor
is reading temperature which is within the optimum
range. The optimum pH range of lettuce plant is
between 5.5-6.5 and from the table we can verify that
the pH is within the optimum range. Ultrasonic sensor
is used to detect nutrient water level in the container.
3.2 Comparison of lettuce plant growth
in soil-based agriculture and
hydroponics
Lettuce plant can grow in both soil- based
(conventional) agriculture and hydroponics and
below table represents few significant difference
among these methods.
Table 2: comparison of lettuce plant growth in soil and
hydroponics.
4 RESULTS
The results of the plant growth is
explained in the below sections
4.1 Results of plant growth
Duration of green leaf lettuce is between 6 to 8
weeks after its germination. Below pictures shows the
growth of lettuce plants once they are transferred to
NFT system.
Fig 6: Lettuce plants growth in 1 week duration.
4.2 Results of pH sensor
The optimum pH level for lettuce to grow in
hydroponics system is between 5.5 to 6.5 which is
slightly acidic in nature. Below picture shows the pH
output in serial monitor of Arduino IDE.
Fig 7: pH output for acid (left), pH output of distilled water
(right)
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4.3 Results for nutrient dispensing
To automate nutrient dispensing in hydroponics, a
4-channel relay and a RTC module is used and 2ml of
NPK has to be dispensed in 1 Liter of water once a
week. The below picture shows dispensing of
nutrients by controlling relay channels.
Fig 8: Nutrient dispensing using 4-channel relay and RTC
module
4.4 Results of Blynk Application
Data from the sensors and nutrient dispenser is
uploaded to a user interface called Blynk application.
Below pictures shows the Blynk application
templates and controller for nutrient dispenser.
Nutrients can also be manually dispensed using Blynk
app and user can dispense NPK solutions along with
pH up- down solutions manually based on the
requirements.
Fig 9: Nutrient pump template in Blynk application.
. Fig 10: pH monitoring template in Blynk application
5 CONCLUSION
The advantages of hydroponics are making it
more popular over soil-based cultivation. However,
integrating IoT technology into hydroponics
enhances the efficiency, precision, and scalability of
cultivation. The results of the IoT based hydroponics
system developed for Lettuce plant has been
presented here by harnessing the power of sensors,
connectivity, and data analytics, growers can
optimize resource usage, minimize manual
intervention, and achieve higher yields of quality
yield. This combination of hydroponics and IoT holds
tremendous potential for sustainable and future-
forward agriculture practices.
The future scope of IoT-based efficient
hydroponics systems is promising and holds potential
for significant advancements in sustainable
agriculture. IoT technologies can further enhance
automation in hydroponics systems. Integration with
AI algorithms and machine learning can enable
predictive analysis, optimizing resource allocation,
and decision-making. Advanced data analytics and
predictive models can be developed to analyse large-
scale data collected from IoT sensors. IoT-based
hydroponics systems can integrate with other
precision farming technologies such as drones,
robots, and hyperspectral imaging. This integration
can enable automated plant monitoring, targeted
nutrient delivery, and precision harvesting
techniques, further enhancing efficiency and
productivity.
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