Design And Construction of Drip Irrigation Automation System for Red Spinach (Amaranthus Tricolor L.) Plants Based on Arduino Uno in The Plant Factory

Abstract

The decreasing availability of agricultural land due to land-use conversion has encouraged the adoption of efficient and sustainable agricultural technologies. One applicable solution is the Plant Factory system, which enables crop cultivation in a closed and controlled environment. To support efficient water use, an automated drip irrigation system is considered an appropriate method. This study aims to design and evaluate an automated drip irrigation system based on Arduino Uno for red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) cultivated in a Plant Factory environment. The research employed an experimental method by constructing a system consisting of capacitive soil moisture sensors, an Arduino Uno microcontroller, a relay, and a water pump. The sensor monitors soil moisture levels in real-time and activates the pump when moisture falls below 50%, and turns it off when it reaches 60%. The test results show that the system operates responsively and efficiently, with a sensor calibration Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) value of 0.50. The best plant growth was observed at a lamp distance of 20 cm, producing the highest plant height and number of leaves. In conclusion, the Arduino Uno-based automated drip irrigation system is effective in maintaining optimal soil moisture and supports plant growth in a Plant Factory system.