| |JUNE 202219analysis which require domain expertise and extensive time. "The development of these convenient features has attracted much attention in aeroponics agriculture. The system is based on a wireless sensor network which comprises a data server, a wireless convergence node, a plurality of wireless routers, and a plurality of wireless sensor nodes", says a study titled `Sensors & Embedded Systems in Agriculture and Food Analysis' by experts of the agriculture industry.Expensive Growing MethodNASA-funded research pointed-out that the only guaranteed answer for long term plant development is high-pressure systems in the aeroponics industry. It is the only technique to make an atomized mist with a range of 5-15 µm to foster growth. To drive moisture and nutrients into the thick root systems, the misting system must deliver high pressure. If the spray degrades, water delivery systems are impeded, lowering yield quality. However, High Pressure Aeroponics (HPA) is highly expensive, and setting-up a HPA requires specialized equipment. Moreover, the grower needs to be highly versed with the HPA system to get any success in this system."Many growers are intimidated by high pressure aeroponics systems, as there is a learning curve in the interval and pressure of sprays. As more growers enter the world of aeroponics, it will be much easier to join in with less experience," shares Kalei Munsell of Bifarm. Bifarm is a sustainable AgTech startup based in South Florida that has developed its own mobile app, titled Bifarm Mobile Application that helps the users to save, duplicate, and share their Grow Plans. This allows growers to create the perfect `recipe' and recreate or share their successes.Highly Susceptible to Power OutagesAeroponic farming requires constant flow of water and nutrients to the plants. If the cycle is disturbed for any external problems such as power cut, the total system can collapse and lead to huge damage to the crops. Hence, producers that use aeroponics to grow their crops must take precautions to guarantee that a power loss does not affect the crop. To avoid desiccation of the plant's roots, misting, water access, or fogging must be done often. This labor can be simplified with automated systems, but it poses a unique issue ­ if you lose power for whatever reason. It is possible to lose an entire harvest if the system is down for more than a few hours. Running an independent generator is the only method to prevent this problem. You'll have to manually water your plants until the power comes back on if you don't have a backup electrical supply.What does the Future Hold?Aeroponic form of cultivation requires 98 percent less land and 95 percent less water than the traditional form of farming. Moreover, in aeroponics, growers can design their systems and nutrient solutions to maximize the growth & production of their plants. Plants grown in these indoor gardens are known to grow as much as 3x faster than those in outdoor farms.With the exploding human population trajectory and shrinking cultivable space, there is no way for mankind than shifting to other effective alternatives than the existing form of cultivation like aeroponics. Although there are multiple challenges ahead, the industry is balloting hard and fast to unleash a robust future. INTELLIGENT AGRICULTURAL MONITORING SYSTEMS HAVE EVOLVED AS THE BEST TOOL TO MONITOR PLANTS WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATED OPERATIONS AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS WHICH REQUIRE DOMAIN EXPERTISE AND EXTENSIVE TIME
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