Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop an electronic controller for microclimate control in greenhouses, as well as to verify if the automated control system affects the productivity of two varieties of lettuce “Lactuca sativa”. The control system was developed based on the Atmega 2560 and compatible transducers. An experimental field analysis was carried out over a production cycle for two lettuce varieties. The experimental results showed that the designed equipment worked according to the implemented programming algorithm. However, the ventilation, nebulization and shading actuators did not control environmental variables, due to under sizing. The irrigation process was correctly controlled throughout the experimental period. The electronic controller promoted increase in the productivity of lettuce varieties. There was increase of 28% in total fresh weight; 10% in stem diameter; 7 and 8% in height gain and average diameter, respectively.
Highlights
IntroductionThe main advantage of producing in greenhouses is the possibility of growing plants in adverse climates, offering ideal environmental conditions for crops (Vatari et al, 2016)
The main advantage of producing in greenhouses is the possibility of growing plants in adverse climates, offering ideal environmental conditions for crops (Vatari et al, 2016).Ishikava and Figueiredo (2011) stated that the lack of skilled labor is a problem for production in greenhouses, limiting the expansion of production
During the first days of operation, the environmental parameters of temperature, relative humidity and radiation were not in the comfort range for the crop for a few hours, even when the actuators were activated. The radiation exceeded this parameter in some days during a first and second phase, and this event was correctly detected by the control system (Figure 8)
Summary
The main advantage of producing in greenhouses is the possibility of growing plants in adverse climates, offering ideal environmental conditions for crops (Vatari et al, 2016). Ishikava and Figueiredo (2011) stated that the lack of skilled labor is a problem for production in greenhouses, limiting the expansion of production. Prototyping platforms are a low-cost alternative for automation of agricultural production processes. The increasing demand for efficient and accessible electronic systems has motivated research using prototyping platforms (Bajer and Krejkar, 2015; Mekki et al, 2015; Wishkerman and Wishkerman, 2017). Studies have used the Arduino platform to create agricultural control systems. The main motivation of such projects is versatility of applications and their low cost
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