An Automated Soil PH and EC Indicator cum Controller System for Nutrigation Adjustment

Abstract

Improper ratio of nutrients input in soil severely affects the human health and enviournment. Appropriate irrigation and nutrilization is essential to produce good quality growth in plants. The plants growth can be successfully regulated by managing the pH and EC of the Nutrigation solution according to soil requirement. An automated soil pH and EC indicator cum controller system for Nutrigation has been developed to provide balanced nutrition level in plants. Developed system comprises of two sensors (pH sensor, EC sensor) to measure pH and EC of the Nutrigation solution, AT89C51 microcontroller is used as the manager and controller of sub-modules such as valve control module, EC/PH measurement module, and power module etc. The output signals from the sensors are interfaced to microcontroller through ADC. Computed results are displayed on LCD. The results show that the system is controlling nutrient application is more accurately and uniformly. This system has shown ample benefits such as immediately available to plants, the system is very simple to operate, install, requires less maintenance and can be easily used for on-field testing. It also minimizes the risk of environmental harm. The simulation results shows that the controller developed can realize the intended function accurately i.e. pH and EC of Nutrigation solution in maintained on the basis of output readings from pH and EC sensors.