Smart and sustainable hydroponics: Fuzzy logic-based environmental control for optimized indoor crop growth

Indoor hydroponics offers a promising pathway toward sustainable urban agriculture, but its effectiveness depends on precise environmental control. This study presents a compact, energy-efficient hydroponic system that utilizes fuzzy logic-based multivariable control to regulate key parameters, including pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and light intensity. The system integrates real-time sensors and actuators, enabling dynamic adjustments based on environmental feedback. Experiments conducted on lettuce, pakchoi, and spinach demonstrated the system’s ability to maintain optimal growing conditions, including a pH range of 6 to 8, TDS levels between 600 and 900 ppm, and light intensity ranging from 75 to 108 lux. Lettuce and pakchoi showed significant growth improvements, with daily height increases of 1.5 cm and 1.3 cm, respectively. Spinach exhibited stable but slower growth due to its higher sensitivity. Compared to uncontrolled conditions, the fuzzy logic system improved plant growth by 35–50 percent. Energy consumption was reduced by 20 percent through the application of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) in LED lighting. These findings confirm the system’s capability to stabilize environmental conditions, enhance growth performance, and reduce energy use. The proposed approach supports scalable and sustainable food production in constrained urban environments, serving as a foundational model for smart farming technologies. • Compact fuzzy logic hydroponics controls pH, TDS, and light in real time. • LED PWM control reduces energy consumption by up to 20%. • System recovers in 10–15 minutes after disturbances. • Outperforms IoT and ANFIS systems in adaptability and efficiency. • Supports sustainable food production in compact urban settings.