Fuzzy Control Application to an Irrigation System of Hydroponic Crops under Greenhouse: Case Cultivation of Strawberries (Fragaria Vesca)

Hydroponics refers to a modern set of agricultural techniques that do not require the use of natural soil for plant germination and development. These types of crops use artificial irrigation systems that, together with fuzzy control methods, allow plants to be provided with the exact amount of nutrients for optimal growth. The diffuse control begins with the sensorization of the agricultural variables that intervene in the hydroponic ecosystem, such as the environmental temperature, electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution and the temperature, humidity, and pH of the substrate. Based on this knowledge, these variables can be controlled to be within the ranges required for optimal plant growth, reducing the risk of a negative impact on the crop. This research takes, as a case study, the application of fuzzy control methods to hydroponic strawberry crops (Fragaria vesca). It is shown that, under this scheme, a greater foliage of the plants and a larger size of the fruits are obtained in comparison with natural cultivation systems in which irrigation and fertilization are carried out by default, without considering the alterations in the aforementioned variables. It is concluded that the combination of modern agricultural techniques such as hydroponics and diffuse control allow us to improve the quality of the crops and the optimization of the required resources.