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Automation and monitoring of greenhouse

Conference Paper · December 2017

DOI: 10.1109/ICICT.2017.8320190

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 Automation and Monitoring of Greenhouse
Muhammad Faizan Siddiqui, Asim ur Rehman Khan, Neel Kanwal, Haider Mehdi, Aqib Noor, M. Asad Khan
Department of Electrical Engineering
National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences
Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract— Recent era has brought upon a major global food
shortage due to the climatic changes in the world. So in order to
deal with this issue of global food shortage households must need
to grow a reasonable deal of vegetables and other crops using
artificial greenhouses. An artificially controlled greenhouse yields
more crops per square meter compared to open field cultivation
since the microclimatic parameters that determine crop yield are
continuously examined and controlled to ensure that an optimum
environment is created. This research paper addresses and tries
to resolve a few issues that are faced by plants caretakers using
the engineering approach so that he/she could remain satisfied
even when he/she is physically away for a long duration of time
because the automated system will take care of everything in the
absence. This automated system works using sensors and
actuators, which are controlled by a microcontroller and monitor
and manage every environmental parameter required for the
good growth of plants.
Keywords— Automation; Monitoring; Sensors; Greenhouse;
Ethernet; Web Server
I. INTRODUCTION
Greenhouse System optimizes environmental conditions to
enhance plant growth with improved yield in minimum
possible time, which is one of the key aim of the modern
agricultural system [1]. They are typically equipped with
plastic wall or glass to conserve the heat but also allowing the
light to go pass through.
Plants that grow in a greenhouse are not provided with the
same temperature variation as the outside cultivation rather
than retaining the heat inside the enclosure that is not possible
before the emergence of greenhouse [2]. The microclimate
which is in the greenhouse actually extends the growing season
of the plants who could not survive outside the enclosure [3].
Automation of a greenhouse provides efficient data
acquisition and control of the microclimatic parameters. It also
significantly reduces the labor involved in its maintenance thus
making the system useful for small-scale agriculturists,
gardeners, and agricultural researchers.
This paper proposes to maintain an optimal environmental
conditions such as temperature, light intensity and soil moisture
using sensors and actuators, and for the purpose of monitoring
a Web based application or an Android based application is
used.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORY
Most of the previous system used smartphones and text
messages based approach to control and monitor such kind of
978-1-5386-2186-8/17/$31.00
2017
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greenhouses but in this project we made this greenhouse self-
control as well as we also implement all the operations of the
greenhouse using the Arduino microcontroller which is a
unique approach at the time of the implementation of this
project.
For sake of the experiment, tomato has been planted inside
this automated greenhouse. Moreover, compare to the normal
growth of the tomato to the one that was planted inside the
automated greenhouse the growth rate in double due to the
controlled environment and excess light that helps in the
process of photosynthesis by which the plants make their food.
We have used Arduino Mega 2560 R3 for controlling and
Arduino Ethernet Shield R2 with a router for data
communication. Here all the devices are connected to the
relays, and automatically controlled using the different
environmental parameters such as Temperature, Soil Moisture,
and Light Intensity. The web server is connected to local area
network (LAN). The monitoring system can be accessed by the
Web app or Android app using a device which should also be
connected to same LAN. The IP address of the web-server can
be used to access the monitoring system using any latest web
browser as well as the Android app can also be used. This
monitoring system page has all the information as well as the
status of all the connected devices [4].
In the periods of low light due to cloudy weather or in
seasons with short days a supplementary source of light is
required for the optimal growth of plants. [4]. By extending the
duration of artificial light we are able to get maximum benefit.
Light fixtures are spaced in the gable area of our greenhouse
[5].
Within the greenhouse maintaining environmental control
for the atmosphere might be very simple by just opening a
ridge vent or as comprehensive as regulating the operation, we
have installed exhaust fans and their number and operating
speed can be changed to keep remain the greenhouse internal
environment as per the predetermined conditions. The
environmental variables that we are controlling within our
greenhouse are temperature of air, and relative humidity. For
the purpose of cooling, fresh air should be enters in the
greenhouse which we done using the vent.
Temperature has an integral role in the growth and
development of plant so that the temperature is itself an
important parameter in greenhouse control. The optimal
temperature vary from plant to plant and it depends on the
plant which we grow or required level of photosynthetic
activity. More specifically, for our plant, optimal temperature
should be vary between 15 – 30 °C. Both too low and high
temperature are harmful for the plant as low temperature limits
the growth of the plant while the high temperature cause the
wilting effects.
provided by appropriate digital pins of the Arduino board
according to the thresholds set by the user. Finally, the current
values of the controlled variables and states of actuators are
transmitted to the remote monitoring station via Ethernet and
Wi-Fi commands in the Arduino sketch.

Fig. 2. System Design

Fig. 1. Smart Greenhouse

The system is composed of two stations: Remote

monitoring station and the Actuators/Sensors Station. The
controller used in the actuators/ sensors station ensures that the
microclimatic parameters stay within pre-defined values as
determined and set by the user is the Arduino prototyping
platform.
Fig. 3. Sensors

III. SYSTEM DESIGN

The Smart greenhouse control system, whose block
diagram is depicted in figure 2, is made up of two integral
units: the first one is Sensors/Actuators station while the other
one is Remote Monitoring station. These two units consist of
sensors for light (Light dependent resistor), temperature and
humidity (DHT11) and moisture; fan, shower and artificial
light; Arduino Mega 2560 R3 microcontroller board; Arduino
Ethernet Shield R2, Wi-Fi router; and a personal computer
(PC). The first unit that is sensors/actuators station is the core
of the system that is responsible for regulating the greenhouse Fig. 4. Actuators
environment. Using these sensors, we acquire the
environmental variables. By filtration, the noise of the data has
been removed and the data has been made available to the B. Remote Monitoring Station
Arduino board, which then calculate the current acquired The information of the system can be monitored by two
values of the environmental variables and compares them with means as shown in figure 5, using the serial port for wired
thresholds values as set. If any value of the environmental communication or by using Wi-Fi for wireless communication.
variables will be found outside the thresholds values so that the
corresponding actuator will be activated to maintain the The Arduino Mega R3 is connected with PC via wired
optimal condition of the greenhouse. The Arduino board also connection and all the information is displayed using terminal
reads the states of the actuators and transmits the information based serial monitoring software name PuTTY.
along with the current values of the controlled variables to the
The other method of monitoring the system is wireless
remote monitoring station via Ethernet and Wi-Fi router.
communication for which the greenhouse system Arduino
Ethernet shield R2 and the client PC should be connected with
A. Sensors/Actuators Station the same network. In addition, the greenhouse system can be
This station has an Arduino Mega 2560 R3 connected with monitor using a web app, or by entering the assigned IP in any
all sensors and actuators. The actuators are activated by signals web browser.

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 Fig. 5. Monitoring System

Fig.8. LDR based light control

Fig. 6. Smart Greenhouse Web App

IV. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

A. Ventilation
The Ventilation in greenhouse in used to control the
temperature of inside atmosphere. Two DC fans were
integrated with the temperature sensor DHT11 via Arduino. As
the temperature values go above the threshold, a signal is Fig. 9. Fan OFF
generated to activate the Fans, which would bring the
temperature closer to the optimal value.

Fig. 7. Temperature based Fan Control

Fig. 10. Fan ON
B. Light Control
Optimum light values are maintained using an artificial
light integrated with the light sensor (LDR). As the sun sets,
the lux changes, which activates the artificial lightning via the
sensor.

199
 Fig. 11. Artificial Light OFF
Fig. 12. Artificial Light ON
C. Soil Moisture
The soil moisture is controlled using three moisture sensors
which are placed at some distance with each other. The values
obtained from these sensors are averaged, and the mean value
is then compared with the optimum value. In case of a
difference, a pump is activated to sprinkle the water in the area
until the threshold value of soil moisture is obtained.
Fig. 13. Moisture Sensors based Sprayer Control
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Fig. 14. Sprayer OFF
Fig. 15. Sprayer ON
V. CONCLUSION
The Smart greenhouse control system is successfully
designed and built is meant to produces healthier crops with
increased yields in minimum time. This project can be
commercialized because is a very useful machine for small-
scale farmers and for hobbyists. With this project, we can
easily grow plants in a greenhouse because we do not need to
check parameter because the system does it automatically.
Our Smart greenhouse project can be used for small-scale
farming such as small nurseries or indoor plantation at
households for people who like to have small gardens at their
homes.
It can also be used for cultivation of special herbs used in
medicines since they require very close monitoring of their
eco-culture due to their sensitive nature. Another application is
preservation of plant species, which are on the verge of
extinction and can be protected via creating an artificial
environment for their survival.
REFERENCES
[1] M. Mahdavian, M. B. Poudeh and N. Wattanapongsakorn, "Greenhouse
Lighting Optimization for Tomato Cultivation considering Real-Time
Pricing (RTP) of Electricity in the Smart Grid," in IEEE 2013 10th
International Conference on Electrical Engineering/Electronics,
 Computer, Telecommunications and Information Technology (ECTI-
CON 2013) - (2013, May 15 - 2013, May 17), Krabi, Thailand, 2013.
[2] R.-a. Li, X. Sha and K. Lin, "Smart Greenhouse: A Real-Time Mobile
Intelligent Monitoring System based on WSN," in IEEE 2014
International Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing
Conference (IWCMC) - (2014, August 4 - 2014, August 8), Nicosia,
Cyprus, 2014.
[3] C. Edwards, "What Are the Advantages of a Greenhouse? |
LIVESTRONG.COM," LIVESTRONG.COM, 14 July 2015. Available:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/124424-advantages-greenhouse/.
[4] C. V. Zabeltitz, “Integrated Greenhouse Systems for Mild Climates:
Climate Conditions, Design, Construction, Maintenance, Climate
Control”, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2011.
[5] G. V. Straten, G. v. Willigenburg, E. v. Henten and R. v. Ooteghem,
“Optimal Control of Greenhouse Cultivation”, CRC Press, 2010.
[6] A. P. Nugroho, T. Okayasu, H. Fushihara, O. Hirano, M. Mitsuoka and
E. Inoue, "Development of Intelligent Control System for Greenhouse,"
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[7] B. Bailey, "Wind Driven Leeward Ventilation in a Large Greenhouse,"
in International Society for Horticultural Science Acta Horticulturae
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[8] Adafruit, "Overview | DHTxx Sensors | Adafruit Learning System,"
Learn Adafruit. Available: https://learn.adafruit.com/dht?view=all. .
[9] S. Studio, "Grove - Light Sensor - Wiki," Available:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/wiki/Grove_-
_Light_Sensor#With_Arduino.
[10] S. Studio, "Grove - Moisture Sensor - Wiki," Available:
http://seeedstudio.com/wiki/Grove_-_Moisture_Sensor#With_Arduino.

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