Growing arugula plants using aeroponic culture with an automated irrigation system

Authors

  • Jhon D. Ríos Salazar Escuela de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Sede Medellín, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 No. 59A, 110, Medellín 050034
  • John E. Candelo-Becerra Departamento de Energía Eléctrica y Automática, Facultad de Minas, Sede Medellín, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 80 No. 65-223, Campus Robledo, Medellín.
  • Fredy E. Hoyos Velasco Escuela de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Sede Medellín, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 No. 59A, 110, Medellín.

Keywords:

aeroponic culture, arugula plants, food production, irrigation systems, smart system

Abstract

The paper presents an efficient form of growing arugula plants by means of automatic control of an aeroponic culture irrigation system. The system considers a reprogrammable electronic circuit that uses software to generate different irrigation cycles to obtain an adequate growth of arugula crops. Results show how different samples grown in a greenhouse had the same growth behavior as field-grown samples during the test period. It was possible to obtain a more efficient and sustained five-week production to supply consumers by having a continuous cycle irrigation system, which was operated for 35 d. The growth and number of leaves were maintained in a similar way for different plants analyzed. Roots grow similarly, but some of them showed size differences during the five weeks. Keywords: aeroponic culture, arugula plants, food production, irrigation systems, smart system DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20201303.5194 Citation: Ríos Salazar J D, Candelo-Becerra J E, Hoyos Velasco F E. Growing arugula plants using aeroponic culture with an automated irrigation system. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2020; 13(3): 52–56.

Author Biographies

John E. Candelo-Becerra, Departamento de Energía Eléctrica y Automática, Facultad de Minas, Sede Medellín, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 80 No. 65-223, Campus Robledo, Medellín.

Received his Bs. degree in Electrical Engineering in 2002 and his PhD in Engineering with emphasis in Electrical Engineering in 2009 from Universidad del Valle, Cali - Colombia. His employment experiences include the Empresa de Energía del Pacífico EPSA, Universidad del Norte, and Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Medellín. He is now an Assistant Professor of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Medellín, Colombia. His research interests include: engineering education; planning, operation and control of power systems; artificial intelligence; and smart grids. He is a Senior Researcher in Colciencias and member of the Applied Technologies Research Group - GITA, at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9784-9494.

Fredy E. Hoyos Velasco, Escuela de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Sede Medellín, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 65 No. 59A, 110, Medellín.

Fredy Edimer Hoyos: received his BS and MS degree from the National University of Colombia, at Manizales, Colombia, in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Automation, in 2006 and 2009, respectively, and Industrial Automation Ph.D. in 2012. Dr. Hoyos is currently an Associate Professor of the Science Faculty, School of Physics, at National University of Colombia, at Medellin, Colombia. His research interests include nonlinear control, system modelling, nonlinear dynamics analysis, control of nonsmooth systems, and power electronics, with application within a broad area of technological process. Mr. Hoyos is an Associate Researcher in Colciencias and member of the Applied Technologies Research Group - GITA at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8766-5192

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Published

2020-06-08

How to Cite

(1)
Ríos Salazar, J. D.; Candelo-Becerra, J. E.; Hoyos Velasco, F. E. Growing Arugula Plants Using Aeroponic Culture With an Automated Irrigation System. Int J Agric & Biol Eng 2020, 13, 52-56.

Issue

Section

Animal, Plant and Facility Systems