Reader response draft #3

The article “Thinking about an Automatic Nutrient Dosing System for your commercial grow? Here’s what you need to know” (Advanced Nutrients, 2023) introduces an automatic nutrient dosing system. This system is a “mechanized nutrient delivery system” that delivers an accurate amount of nutrient solution to crops. According to Atlas Scientific (2023), an automatic nutrient delivery system consists of a water tank, dosing pump, and a controller that controls the flow of the solution. The water tank holds a mix of  water and nutrient solution which will be pumped by the dosing pump. The two main features of an automatic nutrient dosing system is the dosing pump and the Controller and monitoring kit. There are different types of dosing pumps which operate differently but they all serve the same function which is to deliver the appropriate level of nutrients and water to the crop (Advanced Nutrients, 2023). The controller and monitoring kit uses sensors which are placed in the nutrient solution tank which measures the pH and electrical conductivity (EC) levels. The controller then changes the dosage based on the readings of the monitor (Atlas Scientific, 2023). These two levels are important for crop growth as they affect how much nutrient is absorbed by the crops. With both the dosing pump and the controller and monitoring kit, the automatic nutrient dosing system is capable of increasing crop yield while using lesser resources.

The first feature is the controller and monitoring kit. The monitoring component of the automatic dosing system enables the grower to monitor the crops pH levels and EC levels. The pH level determines how acidic or alkaline the nutrient solution is. While the EC levels determine how much dissolved salts are in the nutrient solution. Both are important for crop growth as they affect how much nutrient is absorbed by the crop itself (Atlas Scientific, 2023). The controller and monitoring kit measures these levels in real time and adjusts the nutrient levels by adding water or increasing the nutrient levels in the blended water and nutrient tank (ZipGrow, 2023). This feature can work continuously without disruption, freeing up employees to work on other tasks and thus leading to “increased efficiency and reduced downtime” (Atlas Scientific, 2023).

Another feature of the automatic nutrient dosing system is the dosing pump. The dosing pump measures and mixes precise amounts of nutrients with water before pumping it to the crops (Atlas Scientific, 2023). The dosing pump ensures that the crops receive a constant flow of appropriate amounts of nutrients with no need for human intervention. Compared to the traditional way of mixing nutrients with water, it reduces the chance of crop failure, saves time and reduces human error (Advanced Nutrients, 2023).

One problem with the automatic nutrient delivery system is that it is “expensive to install and maintain” (Atlas Scientific, 2023). The price of a full setup of an automatic nutrient delivery differs but some systems can cost as much as $10,000, as these systems are often customized according to the growers’ needs and requirements (Advanced Nutrients, 2023). There is also the cost of energy and water usage when running these systems around the clock. These systems require regular “cleaning and maintenance” and when they break down, replacement parts can be costly (Atlas Scientific, 2023). If the system is not cleaned regularly, sediment and debris can clog the pumps, preventing nutrients and water from reaching the crops and eventually leading to crop failure. However, the time and labor saved from having an automatic nutrient delivery system adds up over time and can outweigh the initial cost of purchasing the system. Also, lesser resources are used, as water and nutrients are recycled in the system. As seen from figure 1, the leftover water and nutrient solution which are not absorbed by the crops are recycled back into the nutrient tank to be used again. With this problem, many growers still choose to use automatic nutrient delivery systems because of their convenience and efficiency (Atlas Scientific, 2023). 

Figure 1

Brief overview of an automated nutrient dosing system

Note: Not all nutrient dosing systems will have the same components.

In conclusion, the dosing pump and controller and monitoring kit of the automatic nutrient delivery system saves time, water and nutrients while reducing manual labor Hence, it is a clear indicator that the automatic nutrient delivery system is capable of increasing crop yield while using lesser resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Advanced Nutrients. (2018, December 18). Thinking About An Automatic Nutrient Dosing System For Your Commercial Grow? Here’s What You Need To Know

https://www.advancednutrients.com/articles/automatic-nutrient-dosing-systems/

 

Atlas Scientific Environmental Robotics (2023, September 8). The Ultimate Guide To Nutrient Dosing Systems. https://atlas-scientific.com/blog/nutrient-dosing-systems/

 

ZipGrow. (2023).  An Introduction to Automatic Dosing in Hydroponics. ZipGrow Blog.

https://zipgrow.com/an-introduction-to-automatic-dosing-in-hydroponics/

                                                       

 

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