DESIGN OF A VERTICAL GREENHOUSE AND INTEGRATION OF TOOLS FOR ITS ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTATION

Abstract

The objective of this study was to design a device capable of producing vegetables at a small scale in greenhouse. During the research, the key factors to monitor two chemical variables and four physical ones were defined. The electronic one that was developed allows measuring the conductivity, hydrogen potential, temperature and moisture, level from displacement and illumination. For the design of the vertical greenhouse, a structure in two sections was used: one that housed the electronic one in addition to the hydroponics reservoir, and another that contained the plants located in a tower with a distribution that allows their free growth. The morphology of strawberry (Fragaria spp.) was used as design, and an arrangement in two spirals set out at 180° from the high part and separated in a descending manner at 40 cm one from the other was calculated; this arrangement gave space to 14 plants. To make the system work electronic cards were designed for each variable and coupled to an Arduino card that processes, monitors information, and displays it on a four-line display, with a motorized tower for the incidence of solar light to be equal in all the plants revolving at 2 rpm. As a result a functional variable monitoring unit was obtained, ideal for cultivation of strawberry and other small species.