• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 1992

As the automation of nutrient solution management proceeds in the field of hydroponics, effective supporting systems to manage the nutrient solution by computer become needed. This study was attempt to predict the EC of nutrient solution using the neural networks. The multilayer perceptron consisting of 3 layers with the back propagation learning algorithm was selected for EC prediction, of which nine variables in the input layer were the concentrations of each ion and one variable in the output layer the EC of nutrient solution. The meq unit in ion concentration was selected fir input variable in the input layer. After the 10,000 learning sweeps with 108 sample data, the comparison of predicted and measured ECs for 72 test data showed good agreements with the correlation coefficient of 0.998. In addition, the predicted ECs by neural network showed relatively equal or closer to the measured ones than those by current complicated models.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 1992

The optimum management of nutrient solution needs the effective combination of fertilizers as well as the accurate control of nutrient solution. This study was attempt to make a supporting system for effective fertilizer combination by using computer and also to develop a EC predicting equation for keeping the EC of solution within the allowable range after application of combined fertilizers. The supporting system consists of three parts : (1) data bases, (2) rules for deciding the kinds and amounts of fertilizers and (3) main control. With input data, the main control automatically constructs the network connecting the related data bases and subsequently executes the operation of searching proper fertilizers through it. For more effective searching, fertilizers are classified into two levels(level 1 and level 2) in consideration of solubility, price, and frequency in use, and searched in that order. The EC prediction equation, a extended form of the Robinson and Stroke's theoretical equation only available for a binary electrolyte, is suggested for predicting the EC of the nutrient solution containing many kinds of inorganic compounds. The comparison of predicted and measured ECs showed good agreements with the high correlation between the predicted EC decrement by ion interaction and the actual one(limiting EC minus measured EC).

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 1990

The objective of this study was to develop automatic systems of nutrient solution management for optimal nutrient solution environment and labor saving in water culture which enables factory crop production. In this study, an automatic control system and its driving program are developed to prepare, supply, and recover nutrient solution and to keep the optimal solution concentration level using microcomputers. Based on this study, the following conclusions are obtained: 1. The concentration measured by the system using oscillating circuit designed and built in this study, gave good agreements with the actual nutrient solution. 2. In water culture, the period of 12 hours for measuring concentration, pH, and temperature of the nutrient solution was optimum. Addition of control solution due to the decrease of the nutrient solution concentration is required in every 3 to 5 days. 3. It is estimated that the period of the whole solution change is 15 days, however, further research is needed to assure it. In addition, this period must be shortened in the future. 4. Both the hardware and software of the developed optimal nutrient solution control system in the water culture are working very well, however, it is necessary to develop a more economical one-chip micro controller to substitute for the microcomputer.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2004

The steps related to the nutrient solution management were divided into 4 categories. The resistance for water movement in every steps was proposed. The priorities among the steps were set according to the cultural situation, which were used as the basis for the management in perlite bag culture. The enhancement of historical root development is especially critical, as well as how to supply essential water efficiently by minimizing the water movement distance to the root, which is the narrowest neck of a bottle in solution management.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 1997

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of limited nutrient supply during 21 days before and after pollination stage on the growth, fruit quality and nutrient uptake of muskmelon in rockwool culture. Muskmelon, cv. Earl's Favorite seeds sowed on rockwool cube and transplanted on rockwool slab($90\times15\times7.5cm$) when 2 to 3 true leaf appeared on Sep. 6, 1991. Three kinds of nutrient composition recommended by Shizuoka university, combinated with the composition of Otsuka house A and composition Shizuoka III. One half of calcium nitrate(Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$.4$H_2O$) for limiting nitrogen supply during 21 days was treated and then fertigated the nutrient composition recommended by Shizuoka university up to harvest time. Trickling nozzles(Netafim Co. Israel) were used for fertigation of nutrient solution and noncirculating system was employed. Temperature was maintained $18^{\circ}C$ in night but 23 to $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days after pollination for softening the fruit. The drainage ratio of nutrient solution was adjusted 20 to 30 percent. Fertigated and drained amount, and the pH and EC of nutrient solution were recorded. The concentrations of mineral elements including N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were analyzed and compared among treatments. In both autumn and winter cultivation, the limitation of nutrient supply by adjustment of nutrient composition(NO$_3$-N : 8meㆍ$\ell^{-1}$) caused the nutrient deficiency in muskmelon plant due to the limited nutrient supply. After pollination nutrient limitation by the lowering the nitrate retarded the over thickening of upper leaves of muskmelon but plant height and fresh weight of fruit were higher in the plot of nonlimited nutrient supply. The phenomena were attributed to the differences of the amount of nutrient uptake due to the limited time of nutrient solution, duration of nutrient supply and concentration of nutrient solution. These results suggested that increasing nutrient supply in the pollination stage was favorable for better appearance of fruit and improving fruit quality. Further trials would be required for the incre-ment of sugar degree of muskmelon grown in rockwool.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.190-197
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• 1997

This study was conducted to determine the optimum hydroponic system and nutrient solution for promoting the growth and flowering of hydroponically grown carnation. DFT (deep flow technique) and NFT (nutrient film technique) systems were employed and four kinds of nutrient solution, which are Cooper solution, Yamasaki solution, balanced nutrient solution by Japanese Horticultural Experiment Station and PTG solution in the Netherlands were used and compared. pH was lowest in the PTG solution compared to the other nutrient solutions used. Plant height was highest in the DFT system in the plot of PTG solution as of 53.0 cm at 88 days after transplanting, while lowest in NFT system with Cooper solution. Stem diameter was more thickened in NFT system with PTG solution as of 7.2 mm at 88 days after transplanting. Days to flowering was shortened to 122.3 days in NFT system when PTG solution was used. This results suggested a combination of NFT system with PTG solution as optimum hydroponic system and nutrient solution for cut carnation production. Further trials as to the management of nutrient solution by glowing stages should be followed.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.23-26
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• 2010

Commercial fibers such as two kinds of micro-fiber, flannel, and cotton were analyzed for their nutrient solution absorption capacity to select hydrophilic mat used for the irrigation management by drainage level sensor in perlite bag culture. The selected mat was evaluated in terms of absorption capacity. Cotton had the highest absorption capacity and was revealed to be the most appropriate for the control system.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1891-1899
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• 2016

Recently food problem and crop disaster have been increased continuously because of the meteorological changes. These cause rising cost for crops continuously and irregularly. Some researchers have studied straight structure of device for hydroponics and plant factory previously to solve a fundamental part of these problems. However, there are several problems such as limited crop cultivation space, providing irregular nutrients for crops, and lack of monitoring interfaces. For them, we propose an optimal growth and development crops management system using light source tracking and recirculation of nutrient solution method to supply nutrient continuously based on IoT. In order to evaluate the performance of our system, we compared and analyzed in terms of two viewpoints, the tracking analysis for natural light source measurement and the growth of crops through artificial light, LED, respectively. We confirmed that the higher the duty ratio of LED, the larger the crop's size, particularly. As well as, for about 1 month, we compared with the existing natural light growing environment and that of our system. It was confirmed that the size of the crops grown through our system is about three times larger than that of natural light natural crops.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2009

Organic materials reveal the remarkable absorption and high buffer capacity for nutrient. Hence, organic materials need some different nutrient management skill from inorganic one. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of EC level of nutrient solution on the yield and quality of cut rose grown in the mixed substrate of coir and perlite. 3 EC levels of nutrient solution was treated, which were 0.7, 1.0, 1.3 times of standard solution (Aichiken solution, Japan) for cut rose hydroponics. EC of the standard solution was changed by season following as 1.4 (Apr.~June), 1.0 (July~Aug.), 1.4 (Sep.~Oct.), and $1.6dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ (Nov.~Mar.) subsequently. The supply of nutrient solution was controlled by the signal of water potential at -5kPa using frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensor. As the results, marketable yield was similar for all treatments until 3rd harvest, but was decreased in high EC level from 4th harvest to 7th harvest as final. 0.7 times of standard solution decreased the ratio of unmarketable rose having short stem below 70cm and increased the ratio of high quality rose having long stem above 91cm. The flower weight and stem diameter of cut rose was higher in the low EC treatment than the others.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.364-370
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• 2014

The nutrient and irrigation management of scion and rootstock can alleviate stress on grafted transplants after grafting and promote the growth. This study investigated the effects of nutrient and irrigation management of scion and rootstock on the graft-take and growth of grafted pepper transplants. Before grafting, the scions were subjected to different water potential regimes in media by controlling the irrigation frequency and time. The scions were subirrigated 0, 1(two days before grafting), 1(one days before grafting) or 2 times for five days before grafting. The irrigation frequency and time influenced the water potential of media and the growth of scion and grafted transplants. At 13 days after grafting, fresh and dry weight of transplants which were irrigated once at two days before grafting were greater by 29 and 34% than those without irrigation during five days before grafting. This suggests that mild water stress on scion prior to grafting by controlling water management alleviate water stress on grafted transplants after grafting and improve the growth. Before grafting, the rootstocks were subjected to different nutrient regimes by controlling nutrient solution application. The rootstocks were supplied with nutrient solution 0, 1, 2, or 4 times. The nutrient application frequency and time influenced the electrical conductivity (EC) and pH of media. Accordingly, the growth and mineral contents of rootstock and grafted transplants were also affected. At 13 days after grafting, fresh and dry weight of transplants with four times of nutrient application increased by 30 and 20%, respectively, than those without nutrient solution supply during seven days before grafting. Therefore, it is recommended that nutrient solution be supplied more than four times during seven days before grafting for the production of high quality transplants.