Hydroponics Irrigation System

The Hydroponics Irrigation System is an automated setup designed to simplify plant watering in hydroponic farming. In hydroponics, plants grow without soil and depend entirely on a nutrient-rich water solution. This project uses an Arduino Nano, relay module, LED, and water pump to automatically control the flow of this nutrient solution at regular intervals. The system operates by turning the pump and LED ON for 1 minute 30 seconds to supply about 750 milliliters of water, then switches OFF for 5 hours to allow oxygen circulation around the plant roots. This cycle repeats continuously, providing consistent hydration and nutrient delivery without manual intervention. It is designed to be powered by both solar energy and the national grid, making it efficient and reliable even during power outages. The dual power option supports continuous operation day and night, ensuring an uninterrupted water supply for the plants. With a 5-liter nutrient tank, the system can run for about 144 hours which is one month before a refill is needed. This makes it ideal for small-scale hydroponic setups, home gardens, and educational demonstrations. The project demonstrates how automation and renewable energy can promote smart, sustainable, and efficient agriculture using simple electronics. 🎯 Project Objectives The main goal of this project is to design and build an automatic, solar-powered irrigation system for hydroponic farming that ensures plants receive a regular and balanced supply of nutrient solution without human supervision. Specific Objectives: To automate the irrigation process using an Arduino Nano as the main controller. To control a water pump and LED indicator through a relay module, allowing precise timing for watering cycles. To deliver 750 milliliters of water per cycle for a set duration of 1 minute 30 seconds, ensuring proper nutrient distribution. To maintain a 5-hour rest period between watering cycles to promote healthy oxygen levels in the root zone. To design a dual-powered system that can operate using both solar power and the national grid (AC supply) for reliability. To create an energy-efficient and low-cost system suitable for small hydroponic gardens and learning environments. To demonstrate the application of automation and renewable energy in sustainable agriculture. ⚙️ System Operation The Hydroponics Irrigation System operates automatically based on a time-controlled cycle programmed into the Arduino Nano. The Arduino serves as the microcontroller, coordinating the actions of the relay, LED, and pump to ensure regular and efficient irrigation for the plants. When the system is powered on whether by solar energy or grid power the Arduino activates both the relay and the LED indicator, turning ON the water pump to circulate the nutrient solution through the hydroponic system. The LED lights up to show that the pump is running. The pump remains ON for 1 minute 30 seconds, delivering approximately 750 milliliters of water from the nutrient reservoir to the plant roots. After this period, the Arduino switches OFF the relay and LED, stopping the pump. The system then waits for 5 hours before restarting the next watering cycle. This OFF period allows the plants’ roots to receive sufficient oxygen, which is essential for healthy growth. The process continues automatically in a loop ensuring the plants are watered regularly without manual control. With a 5-liter nutrient tank, the system can operate for around 144 hours, completing about 144 watering cycles before the tank needs refilling. The combination of solar and grid power ensures that the system runs continuously, even on cloudy days or at night, providing sustainable and reliable irrigation for hydroponic plants ⚡ Power Supply System (Auto-Charging Design) The Hydroponics Irrigation System is powered by a dual-source power system — solar energy and grid (AC) power. It features an auto-charging unit designed by me to keep the system running at all times. When charging is in progress, a Red LED indicator turns ON to show that the battery is charging. When the battery is fully charged, a Green LED indicator turns ON to signal that the system is ready and the charging has stopped automatically. This smart power setup ensures uninterrupted operation day and night, even during cloudy or power-out conditions, making it perfect for sustainable hydroponic farming.