Sensing Methodologies in Hydroponics for Optimal Growth and Nutrient Monitoring

The world’s population is anticipated around 9 billion by 2050, creating a challenge for traditional farming methods to meet the increasing food demand. Therefore, alternative farming solutions that incorporate modern technologies are necessary. Hydroponics has gained popularity in recent years as it offers a sustainable approach to agriculture by producing high-quality crops with minimal resource usage. Hydroponics involves soilless farming and providing nutrients through a water-based solution. This paper explores the technologies employed in IoT-based hydroponic farming. Different types of plants and their nutrient requirements, including leafy greens, tubers, and fruit-bearing plants, are considered in review to ensure optimal growth. This work focuses on parameters such as pH levels, temperature, and other environmental factors for spinach plant. To monitor and achieve better crop yields, Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor network are established. Wireless sensor networks play a vital role in collecting data on temperature, humidity, and other variables from the field, creating a valuable repository of information. This data is then processed and transmitted through networks. This is discussed in results’ section. Also, this paper showcases the research conducted by scientists and researchers worldwide. It presents a survey of various other technologies like image processing, to monitor plant growth, track diseases, and identify potential issues. It also highlights the existing challenges and identifies open issues that require further exploration in the field of hydroponics.