Development of a Low-cost Metering Device for Automatic Mixing of Nutrient-Solution

A low-cost and precise metering device, which is suitable to automatic mixing of nutrient-solution for hydroponic culture, was developed for small-scale growers. The metering accuracy of the metering device developed was compared with commercial metering pumps. The mixing performance through the control of EC and pH was also evaluated. The accuracy of the metering device in terms of the full -scale error was $\pm$0.3% , which was much better compared to $\pm$2.45% and $\pm$1.38% for the two types of commercial metering pumps. The mixing system of nutrient-solution with the metering device showed a satisfactory control performance with the accuracies of $\pm$0.05mS/cm and$\pm$0.2pH for EC and pH, respectively.