Real-Time Monitoring: The Effect of Using LED Lights on the Growth of Pak Choy (Brassica Rapa L. var. Chinensis) in Indoor Hydroponic System

Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants using water instead of soil, aims to meet the nutritional needs of plants through innovative techniques. This study focuses on two hydroponic methods: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), which uses a continuous flow of nutrient-rich water, and Deep-Water Culture (DWC), which employs a tank to hold nutrient water. Optimal plant growth in hydroponics is often hindered by inadequate maintenance of crucial factors such as water circulation, light intensity, temperature, humidity, and electrical conductivity (EC) of nutrient water. In this project, both NFT and DWC methods were implemented indoors, utilizing various LED light colors to examine their impact on the growth of hydroponic Pak Choy (Brassica rapa L. var. chinensis) plants. An Arduino Mega integrating with an ESP8266 Wi-Fi chip, was employed alongside sensors such as Light Dependent Resistor (LDR), TDS sensor, and DHT22 temperature and humidity sensor. Real-time light intensity, temperature, humidity, and TDS levels were monitored using a custom-designed mobile application. Data was displayed in both graphical and numerical formats, with ThingSpeak serving as the database platform. This study provides insights into the effects of LED lighting on hydroponic plant growth, with implications for optimizing indoor hydroponic farming practices.