Browsing by Author "Jinu, A"

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Assessment of greenhouse cultivation problems in Kerala
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, KCAET, Tavanur, 2021) Deepthi S Nair; Jinu, A
Greenhouses are framed or inflated structure covered with transparent or translucent material large enough to grow crops under partial or fully controlled environmental conditions to get optimum growth and productivity. Greenhouse have many advantages and some limitations also. Due to this farmer are abandoning this cultivation method citing crop failures after the initial phase. Thus, a survey was conducted to explore the reasons of failures of greenhouse farmers in Kerala covering all fourteen districts. Major problem faced by farmers was crop failure due to ageing of cladding material. So that fungal growth and dust deposit over the cladding material reduce the light transmission to the greenhouse which affect its microclimate and growth and yield parameters. To prove this, a field experiment was conducted during the period from April to June 2021 in the instructional farm of KCAET, Tavanur, Kerala. CO-1(Amaranthus green variety) was planted inside both cleaned greenhouse and uncleaned greenhouse (greenhouse without cleaned cladding material) and compared the microclimate and performance of Amaranthus in both conditions. Mean monthly values of light intensity and temperature were higher inside the cleaned greenhouse than the uncleaned one while relative humidity was higher inside the old greenhouse. Thus, crop growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and average yield per plant were higher inside the cleaned greenhouse than the old one whereas the inter nodal length of the plant was higher inside the old greenhouse. From this experiment, it was clear that the aging of cladding material has much influence on crop performance under the greenhouse. Other major problems faced by farmers were a decrease in soil fertility, Fungal/Insect attack inside the greenhouse, high maintenance cost 101 and structural problems of greenhouse, no demand and marketing facility of greenhouse products, etc. From the statistical analysis of survey details, it was clear that farmers are not satisfied with the greenhouse.
Development and evaluation of automated nutrient monitoring and control system for vertrical hydroponics
(Department of soil and water conservation engineering, Kelappaji college of Agricultural engineering and technology , Tavanur, 2023-06-17) Nandhini, J; Jinu, A
Development and evaluation of small scale hydroponic green fodder production system
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, KCAET , Tavanur, 2021-11-29) Adarsha Gopalakrishna Bhat; Jinu, A
A research on development and evaluation of small scale hydroponic green fodder production system was conducted in PFDC building of Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology Tavanur. The objective of research work was to develop a small scale hydroponic green fodder production system, testing of developed system under different micro climatic condition and estimation of water use efficiency for different water application method. Three different water application methods mist (I1), micro sprinkler (I2), fogger (I3) were selected. Artificial light source of LED red (L1), LED blue (L2), LED red + blue (L3) and sunlight were taken for the study. Statistical analysis was conducted to understand the significance of different treatments used in the experiment. A working prototype with best treatments observed during the study was built and cost economics were studied. The highest yield was observed in treatment involving fogger irrigation and LED red + blue (2.11 kg/tray) with the highest water use efficiency (515.43 kg/m3 ) compared to other treatments. The results are in accordance to the results found by Bian et al., (2018) and Kobayashi et al., (2013), who also found the highest yield under the combination of red + blue LED. Seed to fodder ratio obtained was 1: 6. Chemical analysis showed higher percentage of crude protein (13.56%) and crude fibre (12.59%) in this treatment. Higher growth of green fodder under artificial light source can be attributed to the continuous supply of energy compared to highly varying sunlight and also the uniform distribution of water by fogger irrigation which maintained favourable condition for fodder growth. Results clearly shows that growing green fodder with artificial light source (LED red + blue) and water supply with fogger can be commended to farmers for achieving better growth of green fodder for domestic animals.
Development and evaluation of small scale hydroponic green fodder production system
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, KCAET, Tavanur, 2021) Adarsha Gopalakrishna Bhat; Jinu, A
A research on development and evaluation of small scale hydroponic green fodder production system was conducted in PFDC building of Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology Tavanur. The objective of research work was to develop a small scale hydroponic green fodder production system, testing of developed system under different micro climatic condition and estimation of water use efficiency for different water application method. Three different water application methods mist (I1), micro sprinkler (I2), fogger (I3) were selected. Artificial light source of LED red (L1), LED blue (L2), LED red + blue (L3) and sunlight were taken for the study. Statistical analysis was conducted to understand the significance of different treatments used in the experiment. A working prototype with best treatments observed during the study was built and cost economics were studied. The highest yield was observed in treatment involving fogger irrigation and LED red + blue (2.11 kg/tray) with the highest water use efficiency (515.43 kg/m3 ) compared to other treatments. The results are in accordance to the results found by Bian et al., (2018) and Kobayashi et al., (2013), who also found the highest yield under the combination of red + blue LED. Seed to fodder ratio obtained was 1: 6. Chemical analysis showed higher percentage of crude protein (13.56%) and crude fibre (12.59%) in this treatment. Higher growth of green fodder under artificial light source can be attributed to the continuous supply of energy compared to highly varying sunlight and also the uniform distribution of water by fogger irrigation which maintained favourable condition for fodder growth. Results clearly shows that growing green fodder with artificial light source (LED red + blue) and water supply with fogger can be commended to farmers for achieving better growth of green fodder for domestic animals.
Development of an IoT based automated aeroponic system
(Departnent of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Technology ,Thavanur, 2025-04-11) Amrutha, K.; Jinu, A
Food production remains a critical global challenge due to the rising human population, which is projected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Aeroponics, a soilless farming technique where plant roots are suspended in air and supplied with nutrient-laden mist, offers a promising solution for food demand. This study focuses on the development and evaluation of an IoT-based automated aeroponic system at the KCAEFT Campus in Tavanur, aiming to improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness in Palak cultivation. The developed system consists of key components, including a growth chamber, misting units, PVC fittings, and storage tanks for nutrient and water solutions. Automation was achieved through a microcontroller-based control system integrated with a GSM module and various sensors, such as pH, EC, TDS, liquid temperature, DHT22 for humidity and temperature, and level sensors for monitoring and control. The system continuously collects and transmits real-time data to the ThingSpeak IoT platform every 10 minutes, enabling remote monitoring and control. Automated activation of fans, foggers, and atomizers effectively regulates the growing environment, maintaining an optimal chamber temperature of 23°C–27°C and relative humidity of 75%–95% throughout the crop cycle. Key nutrient solution parameters, including total dissolved solids (TDS) between 250–950 ppm, electrical conductivity (EC) from 0.5–2.4 dS m⁻¹, and an average pH of 6.5, were effectively regulated. Light intensity within the polyhouse fluctuated between 520.46 lux and 35,612.33 lux, supporting healthy plant growth. Performance evaluation of the system for Palak cultivation showed a yield of 9.29 kg in 80 days in the cultivation area of about 2.88 square meters (i.e. 32.28 t•ha-1). The water use efficiency was recorded at 66.88 kg/m³, and nutrient use efficiency at 2.86 kg per kg of nutrients used. The system demonstrated a benefit-cost ratio of 1.19 and outperformed aeroponic methods in plant growth and yield. The study concludes that integrating IoT into aeroponics enhances precision farming by facilitating real-time monitoring and automation of nutrient and water delivery, leading to improved resource efficiency and sustainable crop production. The research showcases the system's ability to tackle key issues like water scarcity, limited farmland, and food security, especially in urban and indoor farming.
Development of Iot based automated aquaponics system for water quality monitoring and control
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Technology, Tavanur, 2025-04-11) Rachana, V V; Jinu, A
This study developed and implemented an IoT-based automated aquaponics system designed to optimize water quality management and reduce manual intervention. The aquaponics system utilized a NFT grow bed, with a 1:2 ratio between the fish tank and grow bed size. 500 L fish tank was selected to accommodate 25 fishes, and a 1 m2 grow bed area was used for 48 plants. To ensure a sustainable nutrient cycle, a filter was installed to convert fish waste ammonia into nitrate, which serves as a vital nutrient for plant growth. Water was circulated using a pump with a head height of 2.7 m, and actuators were employed to regulate critical parameters such as pH, temperature, EC, and DO. IoT technology was integrated into the system to monitor water quality parameters. IoT sensors continuously monitored the critical water parameters which are essential for the health of fish and plants. A PIC microcontroller facilitated automated data acquisition, transmitting real-time data via a GSM module to the ThingSpeak cloud platform. Based on predefined thresholds, automatic adjustments were made through solenoid valves, aerators, and pH regulators to maintain optimal conditions. Alerts were also sent to the user's smartphone when abnormal values were detected. Over a three month period, the system effectively maintained water quality within the optimal ranges (DO >5.5 mg L-1, pH 6.5-7.5, temperature 22-32°C and EC
Evaluation and refinement of low cost automation system for naturally ventilated greenhouse
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Tavanur, 2019) Jinu, A; Abdul Hakkim, V M
Optimization of greenhouse ventilation for humid tropics
(Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2000) Jinu, A; Abdul Hakkim, V M
In any agricultural sector, the need of the hour is to maximize the yield per unit area to cater the needs of our population, which is exploding at an alarming rate. Protected cultivation or controlled environment agriculture is one of the methods to increase the crop production from unit area. Of the various forms of protected cultivation, greenhouses are most common. Our state falls under humid tropical climatic condition. Greenhouse cooling is to be done during peak hours of daytime under this climatic condition. Ventilation plays an important role in green house cooling. A study was conducted to determine the optimum greenhouse ventilation for humid tropics and to analyze the effect of different cooling methods viz. natural ventilation, fan and pad system, mist system and roof shading on greenhouse cooling. The study showed that natural ventilation could reduce the greenhouse temperature to a great extent. The different percentages of ventilation used for the experiment were 13.8, 11.5, 9.2, 6.9, 4.6 and 2.3. The study was also conducted without ventilation. As percentage ventilation increases, greenhouse cooling increases and inside relative humidity decreases. 13.8 percent ventilation gave maximum greenhouse cooling and this value is taken as the optimum percentage of natural ventilation. But the natural ventilation alone cannot meet the cooling requirement during peak hours. Fan and pad system is found to be not effective for greenhouse cooling in this particular study. Even 2.3 percentage of natural ventilation condition gave better cooling than fan and pad cooling system. Misting is an effective method to lower down the greenhouse temperature within a short period of time. Misting was done along with fans at different percentages of ventilation and the different climatic parameters were studied. The results showed that while misting, the maximum cooling was obtained at 2.3 percent of ventilation. Effect of roof shading on greenhouse cooling was tested with one shade net over the greenhouse. Roof shade has a significant effect on greenhouse cooling. Th inside temperature of the greenhouse was higher than the outside temperature by more than lOoe during peak hours of the day time, when no ventilation was provided and fan and pad system, mist system and shade cover were not used. But when the green house was covered with a shade net, an inside to outside temperature difference of one or two degree was observed. Also, while operating fan and pad system and mist system, shaded condition gave better cooling. Fan and pad system operated without shade cover, could not bring down the greenhouse temperature below ambient temperature. But for the shaded condition, greenhouse temperature could be lowered to a value less than the ambient temperature. Misting under shaded condition at 2.3 percent ventilation gave maximum cooling. Misting inside an unshaded greenhouse at 2.3 percent ventilation could bring down the greenhouse temperature to 32°C, but misting inside a shaded greenhouse at 2.3 percent ventilation lowered the greenhouse temperature to 29°C. Use of two shade net layers did not give any additional cooling, and at this condition the light intensity inside the greenhouse was only 10 percent of the outside light intensity. It only increases the cost of the greenhouse and hence it is not recommended to use two shade net layers for greenhouses.
Runoff estimation of KCAET campus by curve number methods adopting remote sensing and GIS techniques
(Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering , college of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2019) Anjana, S R; Jinu, A