RVS TECHNICAL CAMPUS - COIMBATORE.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ENGINEERING

A.I 8811 – PROJECT WORK

TITLE : –
AUTOMATED HYDROPONICS FOR FODDER CROP CULTIVATION

GUIDE BY :- SUBMITTED BY :-

Mrs. J. JOSELIN ZIBIA.,M.E., T.BALAJI - 712918108011

B.KISHORE - 712918108029
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
J.SUBASH - 712918108055
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE R.SUSMESVAREN - 712918108058
ENGINEEERING
ABSTRACT :-
Here irrigation system in hydroponics is done using a sprinkler
mist at regular intervals. water is sprayed to the crops every 2
hours for 1 minute in order to maintain the water availability
for their growth. This is to ensure the water usage efficiently for
irrigation purpose and precisive growth of the crop.
INTRODUCTION :-
In this project, crops are irrigated by a mist sprinkler and grown
in a hydroponics method. Here cultivation is done in a blue tray where
crops gets irrigated and grows. These crops turns out to be more
effective on live stocks health because of the cultivation without use
of any fertilizers. Cultivation time for this fodder crop is around 10
days. Growing seeds without soil, and with very little water, within six-
seven days, the seeds are sprouted, the seedings will be up to 30-35cm
tall and provide highly nutritious fodder.
REVIEW OF LITREATURE
Historical Background of Hydroponic Fodder Production.
❖ In mid-1800, Jean Boussingault, a French chemist verified nutritional requirement of plants
grown without soil.
❖ Gericke (1920-1930) developed procedures to grow plants in nutrient solution on a large scale and
in 1939, Leitch reviewed a range of experiments using sprouted fodder for different livestock and
poultry.
❖ In 1969, Woodward, an English scientist, made attempt to grow plants in various sources of
water.
❖ In late 1980s, attempts were made in India for propagating hydroponics technology for forage
production and research works were undertaken by several workers (Reddy et al., 1988).
❖ Productivity and water use efficiency and nutritional composition of yellow maize fodder under hydroponic
condition. E Rachel Jemimah, P Tensingh Gnanaraj, S Meenakshi Sundaram. Journal of
Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 9 (3), 243-246, 2020.
❖ Water use efficiency and fodder yield of maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) under
hydroponic condition as affected by sources of water and days to harvest. Adekeye Adetayo Bamikole,
Onifade Olufemi Sunday, Amole Goke Tunde, Aderinboye Ronke Yemisi, Jolaoso Olufunmilayo
Alaba.
❖ T Arumugam, G Sandeep, M Uma Maheshwari. Many challenges have come in recent years due to the
booming world population. One of the major problems is the reduction of per capita land availability for
soil- based farming.
❖ PK Naik, BK Swain, NP Singh. Indian Journal of Animal Nutrition 32. Production of hydroponics fodder
involves growing of plants without soil but in water or nutrient rich solution in a greenhouse (hi-tech or low-
cost devices) for a short duration (approx. 7 days).
MATERIALS :-

SUBMERSIBLE PVC PIPE TRAY

WATER PUMP

WILD SORGHUM SEEDS TIMER

DRUM
 METHODOLOGY:-
 Hydroponic fodder production involves supplying cereal grain with necessary moisture and
nutrients, to enable germination and plant growth in the absence of a solid growing medium.
 There are a range of chemical and structural changes that take place within the cereal grain
through the hydroponic growing process.
 The number of sprouts produced (yield) and quality of the fodder is influenced by a number
of factors including Grain, environment, Management of the system etc.
 Hydroponic fodder production system. HYDROPONIC INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY
FOR DAIRY BUSINESS. To grow green fodder at wider temperature (15º - 32ºC) and
humidity (70 -80 %) range without fungal growth. Environmentally friendly. Contamination
free fodder. The sprinkler systems are shown here with the latest in filters and dispensing
nozzles.
It requires just 2- 3 liters of water to produce one kg of lush green fodder. Water left over in
hydroponics is recycled to grow the fodder. Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-6th Day.
 Nutrient flows are adjusted across each stack, along with water.
 Hydroponic fodder Growth Stage-7th Day Mould: -
• Mould is actively managed within sheds through pretreatment of the seed.
• Additives to the water are used for pre-soaking the grain to minimize the risk of mould.
• Shed hygiene is also important and thus considerable attention is paid. Hydroponic fodder
Growth Stage-8th Day (Ready to feed)
• One tray containing 1.5 kg maize seeds produces 7-9 kg green fodder with fodder height of
20-25 cm. Water usage efficiently for irrigation purpose and precisive growth of the crop.
Here irrigation system in Hydroponics is done using a sprinkler mist at regular intervals.
water is sprayed to the crops every 2 hours for 1 minute in order to maintain the water
availability for their growth. Using A 100L drum the submersible water pump inserted in
the drum.
 Water pump pushes the water by the implementation of dripper pipe with mist sprayer
water sprays in the seed places trays.
MISCELLANEOUS OBJECTS
RESULT :-
• Natural green fodder is the key to decreasing feeding cost during milk production. Due to non-availability
and higher land costs, minimum Utilization of fodder producing areas to feed livestock.
• This system also eliminates additional pressure on already over worked irrigation system. It is the demand
of the dairy owners in the states, were there is low land holdings, scarcity of water, saline water, higher
labor and land cost.
• The hydroponics green fodder was looking like a mat consisting of roots, seeds and plants. There are
differences in the nutrients content of hydroponics fodder maize during different stages of growth and maize
grown in conventional practices.
• The increase in protein content may be attributed to the loss in dry weight, particularly carbohydrates,
through respiration during germination and thus longer sprouting time was responsible for the greater losses
in dry weight and increasing trend in protein content.
Dripping System Used
• The absorption of nitrates facilitates the metabolism of nitrogenous compounds from
carbohydrates reserves, thus increasing levels of CP. The CP content of conventional green
fodder maize harvested at about 60 days was similar to the earlier findings.
• The lower CF content and higher NFE content of the hydroponics green fodder than the
conventional green fodder indicated the high leafy and succulent nature of the hydroponics
green fodder which may be more palatable to livestock, particularly the dairy animals.
There was an increasing trend in the TA content of the hydroponics fodder maize with the
advancement of the period.
• However, the AIA values of the hydroponics fodder maize were similar and lower than the
AIA content (1.40%) of the fodder maize harvested at about 60 days under conventional
practices.
• This has also reduced wastage of water during irrigation.
CONCLUSION :-
• Natural green fodder is the key to decreasing feeding cost during
milk production.
• Due to non availability and higher land costs, minimum Utilization of
fodder producing areas to feed livestock.
• This system also eliminates additional pressure on already over
worked irrigation system.
• It is the demand of the dairy owners in the states, were there is low
land holdings, scarcity of water, saline water, higher labor and land
cost.
OVERVIEW
SCOPE :-
 Hydroponics technique has proven useful and efficient for producing quality
fodder/feed for livestock. The technique is advantageous when compared with
conventional agriculture because it controls the climatic conditions as well as
plant nutrition.
 Hence, it is possible to get increased production, stable harvests of high quality
fresh green fodder all the year round, and can be produced on a commercial
scale.
 The hydroponic fodder/feed is produced under completely controlled conditions
and is thus free from undesirable materials such as weeds, insects, dust,
insecticides, pesticides, germicides and carcinogens.
 Hydroponics culture is probably the most intensive method of crop production
in today’s agricultural industry. With the possibility of adjusting air and root
temperature, light, water, plant nutrition and adverse climate, hydroponics can
be made highly productive, conserving water and land, and protective of the
environment.
 The HPFP technology has several advantages, such as producing highly
nutritious fodder rich in vital nutrients, minerals, proteins, amino acids and
having better palatability and digestibility; saving water, soil, time and labor.
 It can ensure round the year production of quality fodder/feed free from
pathogens, residues of pesticides or chemicals, fungal or mycotoxins
contamination; pest and diseases; freedom from weeds and contaminants; faster
growth and higher yields in less time, and control over the growing environment.
 It helps in improving the health, productivity, fertility and longevity of livestock.
One more reason for the need for adopting HPFP is the increasing diversified use
of agricultural residues for bio-fuel production, raw material for industry etc.
 Some other qualities of hydroponic fodder (HPF) include: uniform quality, taste,
tender, fresh and green fodder; having high acceptability by the animals, being
palatable and succulent.
 In addition, it saves cultivable land, water, labor, post-harvest overheads along
with the worries arising from uncertainties of fodder supplies due to inclement
weather, drought, flood etc.
REFERENCE :-
• AI-Karaki, G.N. and AI-Hashimi, M. 2012. Green fodder production and water use
efficiency of some forage crops under hydroponic condition. Internl. School. Res.
Network. DOI: 10.5402/2012/924672.
• Al-Ajmi, A., Salih, A., Kadhim, I. and Othman, Y. 2009. Yield and water use
efficiency of barley fodder produced under hydroponic system in GCC countries
using tertiary treated sewage effluents. J. Phytol. 1: 342-348.
• Chandra, P. and Gupta, M.J. 2003. Cultivation in hi-tech greenhouses for enhanced
productivity of natural resources to achieve the objective of precision farming.
• In: Precision Farming in Horticulture (Singh,H.P., Singh, Gorakh, Samuel, J.C. and Pathak,
R.K.(Eds). pp 64-74.

• Chavan, J. and Kadam, S.S. 1989. Nutritional improvement of cereals by sprouting. Critical
Rev. Food Sci. Nutr.28: 401-437.

• Dung, D.D., Godwin, I.R. and Nolan, J.V. 2010. Nutrient content and in sacco degradation of
hydroponic barley sprouts grown using nutrient solution or tap water. J. Anim. Vet. Adv. 9 (18):
2432-2436.

• Fazaeli, H., Golmohammadi, H.A., Tabatabayee, S.N. and Asghari Tabrizi. 2012. Productivity
and nutritive value of barley green fodder yield in hydroponic system. World Appl. Sci. J. 16 (4):
531-539

• Hillier, R.J. and Perry, T.W. 1969. Effect of hydroponically produced oat grass on ration
digestibility of cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 783-785.
• Molla, A. and Birhan, D. 2010. Competition and resource utilization in mixed cropping of
barley and durum wheat under different moisture stress levels.

World J. Agric. Sci. 6 (6):713-719.

• Morgan, J., Hunter, R.R. and O’Haire, R. 1992. Limiting factors in hydroponic barley
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Hunter’s Rest, South Africa, pp: 241-261.

• Mukhopad, Yu. 1994. Cultivating green forage and vegetables in the Buryat Republic.
MezhdunarodnyiSel’skokho zyaistvennyi Zhurnal 6: 51-52.

• O’Sullivan, J. 1982. Possible effects in the culture of barley seedlings compared to barley
seeds as fodder. Department of Horticulture, University College, Dublin.

• Pandey R, Jain, V. and Singh, K.P (2015). Hydroponics agriculture: its status, scope and
limitations. IARI, New Delhi.20-29.