Mariano Marcos State University

College of Engineering

Department of Agricultural and Biosystem Engineering

City of Batac, 2906, Ilocos Norte

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF VERTICAL HYDROPONIC

SYSTEM

Submitted by:

Earl Christian Coniguen

Patriza Coleen A. Cuanang

Marie Mai G. Lagula

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

TITLE PAGE i
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 2
Objectives of the Study 2
Hypothesis of the Study 3
Conceptual Paradigm of the Study 3
Significance of the Study 4
Scope and Limitation of the Study 4

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Vertical Hydroponics 4
Growing Medium 4
Nutrients 4
Botany of Cherry Tomato 5
Hydroponics vs. Traditional Method 6

METHODOLOGY

Locale of the Study 7

Materials Equipment 7
Research Design 8
 Parts of Vertical Hydroponics System 8
Germination of cherry tomato seeds in vertical hydroponics 9
Germination of cherry tomato seeds in soil 10
Fertilization and Nutrient solution 10
Setup of the System 10

LITERATURE CITED
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Research Paradigm 3
Figure 2 Gantt Chart 11
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Nutrients 5
Table 2 Cost of Materials 9
 DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF VERTICAL HYDROPONIC
SYSTEM

Undergraduate research proposal submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for

the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from the Mariano
Marcos State University City of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Prepared under the guidance of Dr. Carlos
M. Pascual.

EARL CHRISTIAN CONIGUEN

PATRIZA COLEEN A. CUANANG

MARIE MAI G. LAGULA

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Soil, water and space are becoming a major problem to the local farmers especially to those

who own a small farm or garden. Water and soil may sometimes be contaminated because of

harmful elements and waste materials that can affect the growth and development of plants. Also,

due to the increase of population and infrastructures, the planting space is becoming more and

more limited.

The method of growing plants in a water-based with rich nutrient solution is known as

Hydroponics. Its solution supplies all the nutrients needed by the plants which is essential for the

plant’s proper growth. It is basically growing plants without soil, only nutrient solution is needed

to provide food and water to the plants.

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 A lot of agriculturists, botanist and agriculturally inclined people has been developing ways

on how to make Hydroponics better and economically-friendly. Vertical Hydroponics is first on

the line, which can conserve much more space and also serve as ornament indoor.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

A lot of agricultural areas have been converted into industrial sites, thus decreasing the area

for crop production. An alternative planting without soil must be used in order to meet the

demand for agricultural crop and food production for a growing population. In this study, the

researchers designed, created and evaluated a Vertical Hydroponics system which can be used as

an alternative planting medium.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main objective of this study is to design, construct and evaluate a Vertical Hydroponics

System.

Specifically aims to:

1. Design and construct a locally made Vertical Hydroponics,

2. Evaluate the efficiency and growth capacity of hydroponically grown cherry tomato

(Solanum lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme); and

3. Compare the vertical hydroponics to the traditional method of planting.

HYPOTHESES OF THE STUDY

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Based on the conceptual framework, the following hypotheses can be formulated:

1. Plants grow much faster and bigger in vertical hydroponics

2. Hydroponics system have higher yield compared to traditional farming.

3. Hydroponics system have higher growth compared to traditional farming.

RESEARCH PARADIGM

FIGURE 1 RESEARCH PARADIGM

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will make gardening or farming even more convenient with the conservation of

land, water and space. This can help people who are interested in farming and gardening, it can

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give them ideas on how plants grow without using too much resources, also, it can make

gardening possible to coastal areas, and urban areas.

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study mainly focuses on the design and construction of the Vertical Hydroponics, and

the comparison and differences of hydroponically grown cherry tomato to the traditional method

of planting.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Vertical Hydroponics

Vertical farming is the growing crops in vertically stacked layers. Vertical hydroponics is

combination of hydroponics(from the Greek words of “water” and “work” ) and vertical farming.

In early 600 B.C the famous Hanging Garden in the Babylon are the earliest record of

hydroponics.

In the early 1930’s W.F. Gericke of the University of California began publicizing the

practice of growing plant in a water solution while he was in U.C. Berkley. Gericke successfully

grew 25-foot tall tomato plant in a nutrient filled solution.

(http://www.greenandvibrant.com/history-of-hydroponics.November24,2018)

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Growing Medium

In hydroponics, the growing medium takes the place of the dirt or soil. Just about insert

growing media’s ( like rockwool, coconut fiber or coconut chips). Hydroponics Growing media

is simply a soil-less material that is generally porous so it can hold the moisture and oxygen that

the root system requires to grow. (http://www.homehydrosystem.com/mediums/mediums-

pages.html.November 4,2018)

Growing medium is where the roots of plant are grown. Growing media’s include

hydrocorn, coconut chips or fiber and vermiculite and many more. The growing media’s does not

supply and nutrient to the plant. All the nutrient comes from a water solution that is made so that

it can easily control the entering of nutrients in the plant and grow.

Nutrients

This is the origin of “nutriculture”. today it is called the water culture. By this method,

plant roots were totally immersed in the water solution that contains the minerals of Nitrogen(N),

phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S) and Calcium (Ca). They are know

seen as the macro elements or macro nutrients (elements required in relatively large amount).

NUTRIENT GUIDE

ELEMENT IONIC FORM CONCENTRATION RANGE

mg/L,ppm

Major Elements
Nitrogen (N) NO-3 , NH+4 100 to 200
Phosphorus (P) HPO2-4 , H2PO-4 30 to 50
Potassium (K) K+ 100 to 200

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Calcium (Ca0 Ca2+ 200 to 300
Magnesium (Mg) Mg2+ 30 to 80
Sulfur (S) SO2-4 70 to 150

Micronutrients
Boron (B) BO33- 0.03
Chlorine (Cl) Cl- ---
Copper (Cu0 Cu2+ 0.01 to 0.10
Iron (Fe) Fe2+ , Fe3+ 2 to 12
Manganese (Mn) Mn2+ 0.5 to 2.0
Molybdenum (Mo) MoO4- 0.05
Zinc (Zn) Zn2+ 0.05 to 0.50

TABLE 1 NUTRIENTS

Botany of Cherry Tomato

Cherry tomato also known Solanum lycopersicum var. Cerasiforme is a small fruited

tomato that is round or oblong and cherry like. A regular leaf type , the growth mode is

indeterminate and the greatest time to harvest is in mid season. Although the leaves and roots are

poisonous. It is usually red, other varieties such as yellow, orange, green or black.This kind of

tomato is usually use for making salad because of its size. In planting direct sowing into the

garden is not recommended. Optimal germination occurs in 7-14 days with constant moisture

and soil temperature of 75-90F.Some tomato varieties, primarily dwarf and determinate varieties,

are suitable for container gardening. Large, vining, indeterminate types can be grown in a gallon

or larger containers but may requires extra attention.

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Hydroponics vs. Traditional Method

Hydroponic farming offers more advantages than the traditional method of farming.

Although hydroponics is more costly, it can help in the conservation of water and space it can

also serve as ornament and garden indoor. Aside from it, one can able to plant crops in coastal

and urban areas where farming is not available. Traditional farming is good but it needs more

effort, time and space for planting crops.

According to Dunn (2013), there is no physiological difference between plants grown

hydroponically and those grown in soil. In soil, both organic and inorganic components must be

decomposed into inorganic elements before they are available to the plant while in hydroponic

system, the plant root are moistened with nutrient solution containing the elements.

METHODOLOGY

LOCALE OF THE STUDY

The design construction and evaluation of the study will be conducted at Quiling Sur, City of

Batac, Ilocos Norte. The researchers chose this locale of the study because of city’s availability

of materials and convenience in terms of its distance from the construction and evaluation place

to the school.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

The materials and equipment used in the study were the following: submersible water pump,

hose and hose attachment, net pots or plastic cups, rockwool cubes or foam, Polyvinyl chloride

(PVC) pipe, plastic box container or plastic storage tote with lid.

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RESEARCH DESIGN

The proper sizes, dimensions, and kinds of materials to be used in vertical hydroponic

system will be determined using descriptive research design and computational design equations.

Size of pump. The formula in determining the required power of the pump is stated as:

WHP= Q*H/3960

Where:

WHP= water horsepower

Q= flow rate of discharge li/min

H= total head, m and

3960= constant

PARTS OF THE VERTICAL HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

The Hydroponic System comprised of different parts: hose, water reservoir, net pots, and

submersible water pump.

Hose. It is the pathway of the water from the water reservoir as mode of irrigation.

Water Reservoir. It is use as a storage that contains the water nutrient solution that is

pumped all the way through the pipe.

Net Pots and Rockwool Cubes. It is used as planting medium or pot of the plant.

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 Submersible Water Pump. It is used to pump or recirculate water nutrient solution from

the reservoir to the plant.

PVC pipe. This serves as the grow tower and a channel or receiver of the water solution

going to the roots of the plants.

COST ANALYSIS

TABLE 2 COST OF MATERIALS

MATERIALS QUANTITY AMOUNT

(Php)

3 in PVC PIPE 6 ft 660

ROCKWOOL 30 pcs. 180

2 in NETPOTS 14 pcs. 70

HOSE 6 ft 200

NUTRIENT SOLUTION 25 g 160

PLASTIC STORAGE TOTE 1 piece 350

CHERRY TOMATO SEED 1 pack 80

HOSE ATTACHMENT 1 piece 72

GERMINATION OF CHERRY TOMATO SEEDS IN VERTICAL HYDROPONICS

Cherry Tomato seeds were germinated using net pots filled with rockwool cubes and was put

in the plastic box container that has water nutrient solution. The seed germination pots were

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placed where it can properly and sufficiently absorb sunlight for 5 to 10 days before transferring

it to the Vertical Hydroponic System.

GERMINATION OF CHERRY TOMATO SEEDS IN SOIL

Equal number of seeds planted in soil for germination with proper supply of nutrients,

sunlight and moisture.

FERTILIZATION AND NUTRIENT SOLUTION

For the vegetative stage or germination stage, the researchers use urea (46-0-0) with the rate

of 2 tbsp per gallon as fertilizer since it is the most recommended and common type of fertilizer

to different types of crops. In the Vertical hydroponic system, the water reservoir was filled with

5 gallons of water mixed with 10 grams of master blend (4-18-38), 10 grams of calcium nitrate

(CaN03) and 5 grams of magnesium sulfate (MgS04). This solution can provide proper nutrients

needed by the plants to survive.

SET UP OF THE SYSTEM

A total of 24 holes can be made in each 5ft. grow tower with 5 inch gap between holes. The

researchers can be able to transplant 24 sprout of cherry tomato in the vertical hydroponic

system. And 24 sprouts were also transplanted in soil.

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 SCHEDULING OF ACTIVITY

1-Oct 11-Oct 21-Oct 31-Oct 10-Nov 20-Nov 30-Nov

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION

METHODOLOGY

Hypothes i s of the Study

Referrences

Res earch Des i gn

Conceptua l Pa ra di gm of the Study

FIGURE 2 GANTT CHART

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 REFERENCES

JAMES, DIONIELYN R. 2002. DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF A

HYDROPONIC SYSTEM. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis. Mariano Marcos State

University, Batac, Ilocos Norte. 4pp.

CANDAROMA, A., J. CABBAT, K. SADO and A. MODILLA. 2015. DESIGN,

CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION OF A HYDROPONIC SYSTEM IN GREENHOUSE.

Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis. Mariano Marcos State University, Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

SARDARE,MAMTA . 2013. A REVIEW ON PLANT WITHOUT SOIL. Article.

DUNN, B. 2013. HYDROPONICS. Technical Report.

http://www.greenandvibrant.com/history-of-hydroponics. Internet. November 24,2018

http://www.homehydrosystem.com/mediums/mediums_pages.html. Internet. November 4,2018

http://garden.org/plants/view/149416/Cherry-Tomato-Solanum-lycopersium-Red-Cherry/

Internet, October 27,2018

http://www.maximumyield.com/hydroponics-pros-and-cons-of-hydroponic-gardening/2/3049

Internet, October 12,2018

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/280235408_Hydroponics Internet, October 15,2018

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/26768.html Internet. October 15,2018

http://ecourseonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=126225 Internet, October 15,2018

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/hydroponics, Internet. October 27,2018

http://www.farmhydroponics.com/hydroponics/hydroponics-vs-soil, Internet. November 12,

2018

http://www.epicgardening.com/hydroponics-vs-soil/ Internet. November 12, 2018

http://www.greenandvibrant.com/vertical-hydroponics, Internet. November 27, 2018

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