1. Overheating
- Cause: Poor ventilation, especially during sunny days.
- Effect: Heat stress, wilting, stunted growth, or crop loss.
- Our Automation Solution:
- Temperature sensor detects rising temps.
- Click PLC activates exhaust fans or opens vents automatically.
- Ensures temperatures remain within optimal range.
2. Low Temperature / Cold Stress
- Cause: Sudden drops in temperature or inadequate heating.
- Effect: Slowed growth, tissue damage, or even plant death.
- Our Automation Solution:
- PLC turns on heaters when temperature drops below threshold.
- Maintains a stable thermal environment overnight or during cold snaps.
3. High or Low Humidity
- Cause: Inadequate control of moisture in the air.
- Effect: Mold, mildew, rot (too high) or poor transpiration & stress (too low).
- Our Automation Solution:
- Humidity sensor measures RH.
- PLC turns on misters or fans to regulate moisture levels precisely.
4. Nutrient Imbalance / Incorrect EC
- Cause: Manual mixing errors, unmonitored feeding schedules.
- Effect: Nutrient burn, deficiencies, pH shifts, low yield.
- Our Automation Solution:
- EC sensor tracks nutrient solution strength in real-time.
- PLC controls dosing pumps to adjust nutrient levels automatically.
5. Inconsistent Watering
- Cause: Forgetting to irrigate, overwatering, or uneven distribution.
- Effect: Root rot, dehydration, or stunted plants.
- Our Automation Solution:
- PLC runs water pumps on a schedule or based on feedback from EC/soil moisture sensors (if added).
- Ensures uniform and timely irrigation.
6. Light Stress (too much or too little)
- Cause: Ignoring seasonal daylight variation or poor artificial lighting control.
- Effect: Photosynthesis imbalance, weak stems, poor flowering.
- Our Automation Solution (with future integration):
- PLC can control grow lights based on a light sensor or time-of-day schedule.
7. Poor Air Circulation
- Cause: Still air, leading to mold, pests, or CO₂ depletion.
- Effect: Weak plant structure, disease susceptibility.
- Our Automation Solution:
- PLC controls circulation fans on an interval or based on sensor input (temperature/humidity/CO₂ with expansion).
8. Disease and Pest Pressure
- Cause: Favorable microclimates (humid, stagnant) or stressed plants.
- Effect: Infestations, crop loss, contamination.
- Our Automation Solution:
- Indirect benefit: Consistent climate control reduces environmental stress and pest/mold-conducive conditions.
9. Human Error
- Cause: Missed schedules, misreading sensors, poor timing.
- Effect: Critical delays or incorrect responses.
- Our Automation Solution:
- Automated logic removes guesswork.
- Alerts/alarms can notify staff via SMS/email if abnormal conditions are detected.
10. Lack of Data / No Trend Analysis
- Cause: Manual data logging or no data collection.
- Effect: Missed patterns, no optimization over time.
- Our Automation Solution:
- PLC + data logging module or HMI tracks temperature, humidity, EC.
- Enables trend analysis, predictive adjustments, and smarter decision-making.
🔁 Summary Table
| Crop Failure Cause | Solved by Automation (our system) |
|---|---|
| Overheating | Temp sensor + fans/vents |
| Cold stress | Temp sensor + heaters |
| High/Low humidity | Humidity sensor + misters/fans |
| Nutrient imbalance (EC) | EC sensor + dosing pumps |
| Inconsistent watering | Timed or sensor-triggered pumps |
| Light stress | Light scheduling (future upgrade) |
| Poor air circulation | Fan control |
| Disease & pest conditions | Stable environment = less stress |
| Human error | Automated responses, alarms |
| Lack of data | Data logging & trend tracking |