Design of an IoT Based Auto Indoor Hydroponic

Plant Grow Chamber: A Prototype

Eduardo Badiola Jr.
College of Engineering and Computer Studies
BS Electrical Engineering
Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna, Makiling Laguna, Philippines
kitsbadiola30@gmail.com

Thea Andrea Garcia

College of Engineering and Computer Studies
BS Electrical Engineering
Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna, Makiling Laguna, Philippines
theaandreagarcia@gmail.com

Giovanni C. Tablizo
College of Engineering and Computer Studies
BS Electrical Engineering
Lyceum of the Philippines University Laguna, Makiling Laguna, Philippines
giovannitablizo@lpulaguna.edu.ph

Abstract— Hydroponics is the way of cultivating plants with
the use of water only. Water based planting has been popularized
in the 1940’s and solidified as culture grows in the 2000’s. And as
the world gets modernized, hydroponics can also be innovated
with the help of automation and other devices. The type of
hydroponics system used in this study is Deep Water Culture. The
plant used for this study to narrow the research is green ice lettuce.
This study focuses on determining the difference of using
automated hydroponic system to the traditional way of planting
using water as base. If there is a significant difference between the
growth observation of the two systems. With the use of humidity
sensor, water level sensor, pH level sensor, artificial grow light,
LCD, and servo motor that helps in keeping the plants in the
automated hydroponic system grow. The sensors and other
components are connected to an Arduino Uno to gather data. The
automated system is also connected to a mobile app. With the use
of Bluetooth module, the system was able to connect to an android
device and send the data to the mobile app created. The system is
powered using solar energy.
Keywords—
Automation: The use of microcontrollers to control the
environment of our hydroponic system.
Arduino Uno: A type of microcontroller that uses basic hardware
and software. It can read or instruct the sensors being used.
DWC Hydroponic System: A type of hydroponic system that
continuously feeds the plant's roots with water that contains
nutrients.
Hydroponic: A technique for growing plants directly to the
nutrient solution water.
Internet of things (IoT): The ability to monitor and exchange data
in real time over the internet network.
Lettuce: It develops a strong taproot that is mostly horizontal
lateral roots, it is also self-pollinating.
Bluetooth Module: Controls the electronics components for
physical computing and explores the internet of things.
I. INTRODUCTION
The production of high-quality food for the human population is
a function of agriculture, which is the backbone of human
civilization. Today, human life depends in the future of what
advancements can be made in the future that will have a
significant impact on agriculture. Alternative agricultural
practices are important in a world with an ever-increasing
population. These alternative methods need to be efficient and
convenient than the ones which most people are currently using.
One of these alternative methods is the hydroponics system or
hydroponics method. Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, a
technique for growing plants that doesn't require soil and instead
uses mineral nutrient solutions dissolved in water as the solvent.
As said, plants are grown in a hydroponics system without the
usage of soil. It is a much easier way than soil-based planting or
farming. It has less labor and can be kept out on the use of
pesticides which can result to lesser use of chemicals on plants.
With the integration of Automation and Internet of things,
Hydroponics system will be easier to monitor, and data can be
stored for future uses.

XXX-X-XXXX-XXXX-X/XX/$XX.00 ©20XX IEEE

Objectives of the study
The research aims to design an IoT based automated indoor
hydroponic plant grow chamber that lessen the manpower and
needed time for planting while saving expenses on water, labor
and non-use of toxic chemicals.
Specifically, the researchers aim to:
1. To design an Automated Hydroponic System using
Arduino Uno with Bluetooth Module.
2. To develop a system that can monitor the plants
considering humidity and pH level sensors.
3. To compare plants growth process from non-
automated to automated hydroponic system.
4. To evaluate the reliability of the output data from the
simulations using Statistical Analysis.
Scope and limitations of the study
This study focuses on automation of indoor hydroponic
growing chamber and connecting it to the IoT. The researchers
used a Microcontroller to automate the system and connecting
the sensors to it. To store and analyze the data, the researchers
made an application that monitors the pH level, humidity, water
level, and light. To narrow the field of research, the proponents
used one type of plant to be grown in the chamber which is
lettuce. The proponents also used an application that can store
the gathered data that can be used in future references. To gather
data, the proponents need to know the variety of the plants, put
the amount of humidity that the plant is best with, water and
nutrients. Then the information will be displayed to the LCD,
this information will include the temperature and humidity.
Also, the information will be delivered to the mobile application
connected to it. This prototype works with the help of sensor
devices, Arduino Microcontroller, and Bluetooth Module. This
study is only limited to the components used to minimize the
cost of production of the prototype. This study is also limited to
monitoring the said criteria.
Review of Related Literature
In this chapter, the researchers reviewed and collected data
information from existing research related to the study, the IOT
based auto indoor hydroponic plant grow chamber.
A. Hydroponics using DWC
According to (Saaid, Yahya, Noor, & Ali, 2013), A
hydroponic method known as Deep Water Culture (DWC)
continuously feeds the plant's roots with water that contains
nutrients. By using this method, you can guarantee that the
plant's roots are always immersed in water and oxygen. The
benefit of a DWC system is that it is highly oxygenated,
consumes less fertilizer, and has few maintenance
requirements. In this study, a pH sensor analyzes the value of
the water containing nutrients in the reservoir and maintains the
pH level to the necessary levels by utilizing a solution mixer in
the valve. In addition, a level control system that opens a valve
to regulate water flow into or out of the reservoir continuously
maintains the level of the reservoir's water. To keep the
reservoir's water level at an appropriate level, water level
monitoring is crucial. In this project, the technique is divided
into six stages: research details, hardware identification,
software identification, hardware-software interfacing, analysis
and troubleshooting, and data and result collecting.
B. Lettuce crop nutrient management
The pH range for solutions is 5.6 to 6.0, but if the right
kind of chelated iron is employed, crops can be produced at
higher pH values. If pH is out of range, toxicities or shortages
might happen despite the presence of nutrients in the fertilizer
sump because pH has a significant impact on the availability of
nutrients. High alkalinity does not necessarily imply a high pH,
and vice versa; however, water sources with high alkalinity
typically have a higher pH. Low alkalinity water can cause wide
swings or rapid changes in pH. Alkalinity of the water plays a
crucial role in pH maintenance as it acts as a buffer against
sudden or wide swings in pH. (Food Safety Info. (n.d.).
Retrieved from Go Centre)
C. Automation of Hydroponics system
A study by Mabitazan, M.-C., & Mabitazan, R. (2021,
November 13) It was challenging to compare studies with the
literature since practically no study addressing automated
regulation of pH and electrical conductivity of nutrient solution
in hydroponic systems could be in the Philippines. One of the
issues with constructing an automated hydroponics system is
having a thorough understanding of not just its advantages but
also flexible growing techniques that give the grower complete
control over the hydroponics environment, including the active
root zone. The amounts in various phases of plant growth in a
conventional hydroponic environment were recorded as part of
detailed studies that improved understanding of absorption and
consumption of hydroponic lettuce plants. These served as the
foundation for the automated hydroponic system design.
D. Planting media for hydroponics
Different types of planting media, including Rockwell,
sponge, coconut, and other coconut powder, are used for
hydroponic plants. When caring for plants, Hydroponics must
carefully examine the timing of when to add water and replace
nutrients. If the plant owner has several Hydroponics plants,
this can be quite inconvenient. A system that can automatically
hydrate the hydroponics when necessary is required to irrigate
a lot of hydroponic plants. (Sihombing, Karina, Tarigan, &
Syarif, 2017).
A systematic study of hydroponic water culture is
provided in another work, The Development of an Automatic
Microcontroller System for Deep Water Culture (DWC). This
article also covers how to maintain water levels in hydroponic
reservoirs and how to measure the pH readings of the sensors
(Saaid, Yahya, Noor, & Ali, 2013).
E. Study on the internet of things.
The internet of things is the ability to monitor and
visualize data in real time and at the same time being able to
send back data and control parameters over a network II. METHODOLOGY
(Lakshmanan, Djama, Perumal, & Abdulla, 2020).
In this chapter, the methods used by the researchers are shown.
Currently, the term "Internet of Things" (IoT) is used The method of research, data sources, flow, and procedures that
to describe a dynamic global network infrastructure with self- were undertaken to complete the prototype were shown through
configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable different figures and tables.
communication protocols where physical and virtual "Things" A. INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT (IPO) CHART DISCUSSION
have identities, physical characteristics, and virtual
personalities and use intelligent interfaces while being Input Process Output
seamlessly integrated into the information network
•Humidity
(Kranenburg, 2008). sensors
The foundation of the Internet of Things is specifically •Ultrasonic
the integration of sensors/actuators, RFID tags, and •LCD Display
transducer •Arduino Uno
communication technologies. This integration explains how •LED Lights
•pH level
various physical objects and devices around us can be sensors
connected to the Internet and allow them to collaborate and •Water Level
communicate with one another to achieve common goals Sensor
•Light Sensor •Bluetooth •Data to
(Kramp, Kranenburg, & Lange, 2013). Module. Mobile App
Via Mobile
•Data From
Devices
SYNTHESIS Arduino

There are different related kinds of literature that the

researchers can use to provide coherent and valid arguments Fig. 1 IPO Chart
regarding the purpose, and the prototype itself that they will
design. The studies in summary are using many types of sensors
Figure 1: The figure above shows the input-process-output
to be able to identify the classifications that their study is (IPO) of the prototype in order to obtain the output that the
focusing. They are using capacitive sensors, proximity sensors, researchers are going to test. The conceptual framework of the
imaging sensors, inductive sensors, infrared sensors, moisture project is to gather data on the system using the sensors and
sensors, etc. Most of the projects related to the researchers’ displays it on the LCD display. The LED lights are turned on
prototype are using Arduino as their microcontroller some have when the light sensor detects no light to simulate the sunlight.
GSM modules to provide connections to the internet. All the data from the Arduino Uno is then sent to the Bluetooth
The researchers’ prototype design will have the same Module to be sent the cloud via internet and displayed on the
concept from the listed related literature however, the whole mobile application in the mobile devices.
system of the researchers will be powered using solar energy.
There will be four (4) bins (paper, plastic, metal, and other B. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
materials) that the researchers will design. The system will run
using Arduino as the microcontroller and the combination of
different sensors that the researchers have listed in the related
literature to properly execute the segregation that they wish to
achieve.

Fig. 2 Block Diagram of the System

Figure 2: Using Arduino Microcontroller, with automatic air Start
vent powered by servo motor. Automatic ON/OFF LED Lights,
on during nighttime, OFF During day time with 2 compartment, Initialize all

lower compartment sealed for water storage, upper compartment variables.

transparent. With chassis protection for the entire circuit. The

Read Water
vent automatically open/close depends on the humidity that the level,
Humidity, pH
sensor read. With LCD that displays the humidity value and level and light
sensor.

water level. The water level is measured by the water level

sensor. The Bluetooth Module is connected to the Arduino Uno
via a USB cable that sends the data to the mobile applications. Are
sensors all

The buzzer automatically turns on when one of the sensors functionin

g

malfunctions. The DC aerator is connected straight through the YES N

battery pack. The system is powered through a Li-On battery Deactivate buzzer. Activate buzzer.

pack supplied by a 12V solar panel.

Fix sensor/s that is/are
not functioning.

is pH level Is Water
is humidity < 6.0 / level still
<40 / >70? >7.0? High?

YES NO

Deactivate servo. Activate Servo

Display
Variables
on LCD

Fig. 4 System Flowchart Part 1

Fig. 3 Schematic Diagram

Figure 3: The figure above provides the schematic diagram of

the system. First, the system if powered by a Li-on battery pack
supplied by a 12V solar panel. The DC Aerator is connected
directly to the battery pack. Then the inputs are connected to the
Arduino Uno microcontroller. The inputs are the ones gathering
information. The following inputs are the: Waterproof
Ultrasonic Transducer, Analog pH Sensor, Light Dependent
Resistor, and the DHT22 Humidity and Temperature Sensor.
The Arduino Uno then processes this information and are
displayed and give functions to the outputs. The outputs are the:
LCD (Liquid-crystal Display), LED (Light Emitting Diode),
Buzzer, and the Servo motor. The waterproof Ultrasonic
Transducer and Analog pH Sensor’s information is displayed in
the LCD. It displays humidity, water level, and pH level. The air
vent is powered by a servo motor that automatically
opens/closes depending on the humidity of the system. The LED
lights automatically opens if it is nighttime and closes on
daytime where the Light Sensor Photoresistor Module controls.
The buzzer turns on when one of the sensors are not working.
Then all the information is sent to the Bluetooth Module to be
sent wirelessly to the mobile application.
 utilizing sensors, automated control systems, and a customizable
A growth environment, this hydroponic system will enable
individuals and businesses to grow a wide range of plants in a
more controlled and efficient manner.

Is it D. HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
nighttime?

Activate LED Deactivate LED

Send data on
mobile Fig. 7 Arduino UNO
application Figure 7: Arduino Uno is an 8-bit ATmega328P
app microcontroller-based microcontroller board. It includes other
components to support the ATmega328P microcontroller, such
as a crystal oscillator, serial communication, voltage regulator,
Store data on
Mobile
and so on. The Arduino Uno has 14 digital input/output pins, 6
Application analog input pins, a USB link, a Power barrel jack, an ICSP
header, and a reset button., an ICSP header, and a reset button
on the board.

End

Fig. 5 System Flowchart Part 2

C. DESIGN OF THE HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

Fig. 8 DHT22 humidity and temperature sensor

Figure 8: It tests the ambient air with a capacitive humidity

sensor and a thermistor and outputs a digital signal on the data
pin (no analog input pins needed).

Fig. 6 Structural Design

An automated hydroponic system is a highly efficient and Fig. 9 Waterproof Ultrasonic Transducer
sustainable method of growing plants that relies on a soil-free
Figure 9: The JSN-SR04T is an easy-to-use waterproof
cultivation technique. With the increasing demand for locally
ultrasonic distance sensor with a range of 25 to 450 cm.
sourced fresh produce, the development of automated
hydroponic systems has become an essential aspect of modern
agriculture. This proposed design aims to create a scalable and
easy-to-use system that leverages the latest advancements in
technology to optimize plant growth and production. By
 Fig. 10 Servo Motor
Figure 10: A type of servo motor wherein can shift or rotate its
shaft at a precise angle while controlling angular or linear
position, velocity, and acceleration with high precision. The
servo motor is used to help open the valve. The voltage
requirements range from 3V to 12V.
Fig. 11 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
Figure 11: It displays a device that operates by applying a
varying electric voltage to a layer of liquid crystal, thereby
inducing changes in its optical properties. It will display the data
gathered from the sensors 002E.
Fig. 12 LED light (Grow light)
Figure 12: LED grow light is an artificial light source that emits
a spectrum of light optimized for plant growth. It typically
consists of multiple LED chips arranged in a panel or fixture that
is designed to provide the necessary light spectrum for plants to
undergo photosynthesis and grow.
Fig. 13 Relay Module
Figure 13: A power relay module that is an electrical switch that
is operated by an electromagnet. The electromagnet is activated
by a separate low-power signal from a micro controller. When
activated, the electromagnet pulls to either open or close an
electrical circuit.
Fig. 14 5V Regulator
Figure 14 A 5V regulator that is an electronic component that is
used to regulate or control the voltage of a power supply to a
stable 5 volts. It is a type of voltage regulator that is commonly
used in electronic circuits, especially in low-power applications
where a steady voltage is required.
Fig. 15 pH Sensor
Figure 15: It is an electronic device that is used to measure the
acidity or alkalinity of a liquid or solution. The pH sensor works
by measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the
solution and converting it into a voltage or digital signal that can
be read and interpreted by a microcontroller or computer.

Fig. 16 LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
Figure 16: An LDR is a component that has a (variable)
resistance that changes with the light intensity that falls upon it.
This allows them to be used in light sensing circuits.
Fig. 17 Li-on Battery Pack
Figure 17: A Li-ion battery pack is a rechargeable battery that
uses lithium ions as the primary material for its electrochemical
reactions. The battery pack consists of multiple individual Li-
ion cells that are connected in series or parallel to achieve the
desired voltage and capacity.
Fig. 18 LED light (Grow light)
Figure 18: A 12V solar panel is a type of photovoltaic panel that
is designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy with a
voltage output of approximately 12 volts. These solar panels are
commonly used in small-scale off-grid solar power systems,
such as in remote locations or for charging 12V batteries.
Fig. 19 DC Aerator
Figure 19: It is an aerator that uses a direct current (DC) motor
to drive its operation. An aerator is a device that is used to
increase the oxygen levels in water by creating turbulence or
agitation. This is important for maintaining healthy aquatic
environments in ponds, aquariums, fish tanks, and other aquatic
systems.
Fig. 20 Bluetooth Module
Figure 20: This is an easy-to-use Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port
Protocol) module, it is designed for transparent wireless serial
connection setup. Its communication is via serial
communication which makes an easy way to interface with
controller or PC.
Fig. 21 Buzzer
Figure 18: A buzzer is a type of electro-acoustic transducer that
produces a buzzing or humming sound when an electrical signal
is applied to it.
D. Software
Arduino IDE
The Arduino Program (IDE) includes a text editor for
creating code, a message field, a data console a menu with
buttons for common functions, and a set of menus. It
communicates with the Arduino and Genuino hardware by
connecting to them and uploading programs. Sketches are
programs created with the Arduino Software (IDE). These
sketches were made in a text editor and saved with the .ino file
extension. Cutting/pasting, as well as searching/replacing text,
are all available in the editor. The message area shows errors
and provides input when saving and exporting. You can verify
and upload programs, make, open, and save sketches, and open
the serial monitor using the toolbar buttons.
 March 9, 2023 1.9 March 9, 2023 1.9
March 10, 2023 1.9 March 10, 2023 1.9
March 11, 2023 1.9 March 11, 2023 1.9
March 12, 2023 1.9 March 12, 2023 2.0
March 13, 2023 2.0 March 13, 2023 2.0
March 14, 2023 2.0 March 14, 2023 2.0
March 15, 2023 2.0 March 15, 2023 2.0
March 16, 2023 2.0 March 16, 2023 2.0
March 17, 2023 2.0 March 17, 2023 2.1
March 18, 2023 2.1 March 18, 2023 2.3
March 19, 2023 2.2 March 19, 2023 2.3
March 20, 2023 2.3 March 20, 2023 2.5
March 21, 2023 2.4 March 21, 2023 2.5
March 22, 2023 2.5 March 22, 2023 2.9

Table 2 shows leaf size of the lettuce inside the automated

hydroponic system.
Fig. 22 Arduino IDE
TABLE III. LEAF SIZE INSIDE NON-AUTOMATED SYSTEM

III. EXPERIMENTS AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS Plant A Plant B

Day Measure Day Measure
(inch) (inch)
A. Test Results March 9, 2023 1.8 March 9, 2023 1.8
The following tables are from the gathered data from the March 10, 2023 1.8 March 10, 2023 1.8
study showing the humidity, pH level, water level, leaf size, March 11, 2023 1.8 March 11, 2023 1.8
and leaf height. The data gathered is within a time frame of March 12, 2023 1.8 March 12, 2023 1.9
fourteen (14) days starting from March 9, 2023, to March March 13, 2023 1.8 March 13, 2023 1.9
22, 2023. March 14, 2023 1.9 March 14, 2023 1.9
March 15, 2023 1.9 March 15, 2023 2.0
TABLE I. MEASURES OF PARAMETERS
March 16, 2023 1.9 March 16, 2023 2.0
Average Humidity Average pH level March 17, 2023 1.9 March 17, 2023 2.0
Day
Day Night Day Night March 18, 2023 1.9 March 18, 2023 2.1
1 73.39 79.45 6.33 7.32 March 19, 2023 1.9 March 19, 2023 2.1
2 83.84 82.80 6.37 7.37 March 20, 2023 2.0 March 20, 2023 2.2
3 69.60 82.66 6.36 7.38 March 21, 2023 2.0 March 21, 2023 2.2
4 70.06 82.72 6.38 7.36 March 22, 2023 2.0 March 22, 2023 2.3
5 69.97 82.82 6.37 7.33
6 69.97 82.10 6.34 7.34 Table 3 shows leaf size of the lettuce inside the non-
7 69.91 82.22 6.33 7.32 automated hydroponic system.
8 68.98 81.57 6.31 7.36
9 69.88 78.71 6.26 6.84 TABLE IV. LEAF HEIGHT INSIDE AUTOMATED SYSTEM
10 82.77 80.68 6.66 7.75
Plant A Plant B
11 86.21 81.19 6.77 7.76
Day Measure Day Measure
12 74.99 79.90 6.13 7.53 (inch) (inch)
13 88.21 81.63 6.48 7.35 March 9, 2023 2.2 March 9, 2023 2.8
14 81.63 83.28 7.48 7.38 March 10, 2023 2.3 March 10, 2023 2.8
March 11, 2023 2.3 March 11, 2023 2.8
Table 1 shows the average humidity and average pH March 12, 2023 2.4 March 12, 2023 2.9
level of the plants from day 1 to day 14. March 13, 2023 2.4 March 13, 2023 3.0
March 14, 2023 2.5 March 14, 2023 3.1
TABLE II. LEAF SIZE INSIDE AUTOMATED SYSTEM
March 15, 2023 2.6 March 15, 2023 3.1
Plant A Plant B March 16, 2023 2.7 March 16, 2023 3.3
Day Measure Day Measure March 17, 2023 2.8 March 17, 2023 3.4
(inch) (inch) March 18, 2023 3 March 18, 2023 3.5
 March 19, 2023 3.2 March 19, 2023 3.5
March 20, 2023 3.4 March 20, 2023 3.7
Leaf Height
March 21, 2023 3.4 March 21, 2023 3.9 4.1
March 22, 2023 3.5 March 22, 2023 4.0
3.6
Table 4 shows leaf height of the lettuce inside the automated
hydroponic system. 3.1

TABLE V. LEAF HEIGHT INSIDE NON-AUTOMATED SYSTEM 2.6

Plant A Plant B 2.1

Day Measure Day Measure Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day
(inch) (inch) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
March 9, 2023 2.2 March 9, 2023 2.1
March 10, 2023 2.2 March 10, 2023 2.1 Plant A Automated Plant B Automated
March 11, 2023 2.2 March 11, 2023 2.2 Plant A non-automated Plant B non-automated
March 12, 2023 2.2 March 12, 2023 2.2
March 13, 2023 2.3 March 13, 2023 2.3 Fig. 24 Leaf Height Comparison
March 14, 2023 2.3 March 14, 2023 2.3
B. Data Analysis
March 15, 2023 2.4 March 15, 2023 2.4
March 16, 2023 2.5 March 16, 2023 2.4 Data analysis was done using the data that were
March 17, 2023 2.6 March 17, 2023 2.5 gathered using the application and through manual measuring.
March 18, 2023 2.6 March 18, 2023 2.5 Each data is updated constantly and demonstrates the values
that were reached each day. The average humidity and pH level
March 19, 2023 2.7 March 19, 2023 2.5
data in Table 1. shows the average humidity and pH levels
March 20, 2023 2.7 March 20, 2023 2.6
gathered during morning and nighttime. The interval for the
March 21, 2023 2.8 March 21, 2023 2.7
data gathered is in an hour. Tables 2&3. shows the data on the
March 22, 2023 2.9 March 22, 2023 2.7 growth of the leaf size of the lettuce inside the automated and
non-automated hydroponic system. Tables 4&5. shows the data
Table 5 shows leaf height of the lettuce inside the non- on the growth of the leaf height of the lettuce inside the
automated hydroponic system. automated and non-automated hydroponic system. This data is
needed to prove the significant difference between the growth
of lettuce in the automated and the non-automated hydroponic
system. As the plant consumes more and more nutrients from
Leaf Size the water, the pH value increases shown in Table 1. As the table
shows, during nighttime, the pH level increased. This is because
2.8 of the acidic nature of the nutrients.
2.6
To determine the significant difference in the growth
2.4 of lettuce between the automated and non-automated
2.2 hydroponic system, we will perform a two samples t-test at
significance level α = 0.05.
2

1.8 TABLE VI. PLANT A TWO SAMPLES T-TEST BETWEEN THE LEAF SIZE
Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances
Lettuce leaf size Lettuce leaf size
Plant A Automated Plant A non-automated inside the outside the
Plant B Automated Plant B non-automated Automated Automated
Hydroponic Hydroponic
Fig. 23 Leaf Size Comparison System System
Mean 2.078571429 1.885714286
Variance 0.038736264 0.005934066
Observations 14 14
Pooled Variance 0.022335165
Hypothesized 0
Mean Difference
df 26
 t Stat 3.414209509 Hydroponic System is 0.134642857. It simply refers to the
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.001053924 average of the two group variances.
t Critical one-tail 1.70561792 Hypothesized mean difference
P(T<=t) two-tail 0.002107847
t Critical two-tail 2.055529439 The number that we “hypothesize” is the difference between
the two means. In this case, we chose 0 because we want to test
TABLE VII. PLANT A TWO SAMPLES T-TEST BETWEEN THE LEAF HEIGHT whether or not there is any difference at all between automated
and non-automated hydroponic system.
Degree of freedom (df)
t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances
The degrees of freedom for the t-test. This is calculated as n-
Lettuce leaf Lettuce leaf
1 where n is the number of pairs. In this case, df = 28 – 2 = 26
height inside the height outside the
since we have two groups.
Automated Automated
Hydroponic Hydroponic t Stat
System System The test statistic t, which turns out to be 3.414209509 in the
Mean 2.764285714 2.471428571 leaf size and negative 2.111607431 on the leaf height. It is the
Variance 0.208626374 0.060659341 ratio of the departure of the estimated value of a parameter from
Observations 14 14 its hypothesized value to its standard error.
Pooled Variance 0.134642857
P(T<=t) two-tail
Hypothesized 0
Mean Difference The p-value for a two-tailed t-test. In this case, p =
df 26 0.002107847 on the leaf size and p = 0.044486797 on the leaf
t Stat 2.111607431 height. Both values are smaller than alpha = 0.05, so we reject
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.022243398 the null hypothesis. We have sufficient evidence to say that there
t Critical one-tail 1.70561792 is a statistically significant difference between the leaf size and
leaf height growth mean of automated and non-automated
P(T<=t) two-tail 0.044486797
hydroponic system.
t Critical two-tail 2.055529439
t Critical two-tail
Mean This is the critical value of the test, found by identifying the
value in the t Distribution table that corresponds with a two-
This is the “mean” for each sample. The mean Lettuce leaf tailed test with alpha = 0.05 and df = 26. This turns out to be
size inside the Automated Hydroponic System is 2.08 and the 2.055529439 on the leaf size and 2.055529439 on the leaf
mean Lettuce leaf size inside the non-Automated Hydroponic height. Since the absolute value of our test statistic t is greater
System is 1.89. than this value, we reject the null hypothesis. We have sufficient
The mean Lettuce leaf height inside the Automated evidence to say that there is a statistically significant difference
Hydroponic System is 2.76 and the mean Lettuce leaf height between the leaf size and leaf height mean of automated and
inside the non-Automated Hydroponic System is 2.47. non-automated hydroponic system.
Variance Note that the p-value and the critical value approach will both
lead to the same conclusion.
This is the variance for each sample. The mean Lettuce leaf
size inside the Automated Hydroponic System is 0.0388 and the
mean Lettuce leaf size inside the non-Automated Hydroponic
System is 0.0059.
The variance Lettuce leaf height inside the Automated
Hydroponic System is 0.2086 and the mean Lettuce leaf height
inside the non-Automated Hydroponic System is 0.0607.
Observations
This is the number of observations in each sample. Both
samples have 14 observations.
Pooled Variance
The correlation between the leaf size of the Automated
Hydroponic System and non-Automated Hydroponic System is
0.022335165 and the correlation between the leaf height of the
Automated Hydroponic System and non-Automated

Fig. 25 t-Distribution Table
IV. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Conclusion
From the results of the study, it can be concluded that
the researchers developed a system that can monitor the plants
considering humidity and pH level sensors. The researchers
also compared plant growth between non-automated and
automated hydroponic system using the two samples t-test and
evaluated the reliability of the output data from the simulations
using Statistical Analysis. The researchers proposed two
hypotheses in this research. They are Null Hypothesis (Ho) and
the Alternative Hypothesis (Ha).
The null hypothesis states that “There is no significant
difference between growth of lettuce in Automated Hydroponic
System and non-automated hydroponic system” and the
alternative hypothesis states that “There is a significant
difference between growth of lettuce in Automated Hydroponic
System and non-automated hydroponic system.” Based on the
results of the study, the p-values of the t-statistic is less than the
alpha = 0.05. This means we reject the null hypothesis. We have
sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a statistically
significant difference between the leaf size and leaf height
growth mean of automated and non-automated hydroponic
system.
In conclusion, researchers successfully designed an
IoT based automated indoor hydroponic plant grow chamber
that lessen the manpower and needed time for planting while
saving expenses on water, labor, and non-use of toxic
chemicals.
B. Recommendations
This chapter will discuss the recommendations that the
researchers acquired for future researchers.
• Future researchers may use a larger system for the
hydroponics by using pipes as the pot for the plants.
• Future researchers can replace or add a piezoelectric
transducer to keep the plant moist if they don’t want
the plants roots to be directly placed into the water.
• Future researchers can use other varieties of plants in
using the hydroponic system.
• Future researchers may add Raspberry Pi to improve
the program of the system to make the mobile app have
a SMS or notification alert.
• Future researchers may add a program to the mobile
app with regards to the buzzer to easily detect which of
the components have defects.
• Future researchers may use larger batteries and solar
power to improve power sustainability to the system.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The researchers would like to extend their deepest
appreciation to the following people who have been part of the
success of this study:
First and foremost, to our Creator, for his guidance,
knowledge, and strength He gave to the proponents as they
complete this study;
The researchers would also like to express their gratitude to
their family for their endless support, especially in terms of
finances;
Gratitude is also expressed to Engr. Jussel D. Alejandre,
Engr. Favis Balinado, Engr. Ronald T. Tamayo, and Engr.
Billy Ray M. Oldan who played a big role in the development
of this research’s system. This study would not be possible
without their comments, recommendations, and advice;
To Ms. Renemaris Delapena and family for the knowledge
shared in helping how to grow and take care of lettuce.
To Sir Vhinz Tuyor in helping with the system
programming.
To their classmates for always being there in times of
difficulties; and
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