ELKHA, Vol. X No. Y., April 2018, pp.
1-2
ISSN: 1858-1463 (print), 2580-6807 (online)
Implementation of Internet of Things for pH
Monitoring on Hydroponics Plants Using
NodeMCU ESP8266-07
1, 2,3)
Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Al Azhar,
Indonesia
Yuni Wahyuni1), Anwar Mujadin2), Octarina Nur Samijayani3)
email: 1) yuniwahyuni113@gmail.com, 2) amujadin@uai.com, 3) octarina.nur@uai.ac.id
Abstract – Advanced technologies that are currently
developed the most is the Internet of Things (IoT). The goal
of IoT is to enable things to be connected anytime, anyplace,
with anything and with anyone where it is ideally using any
path or any network. Smart garden of hydroponic plant is
one of IoT application proposed in this research. Hydroponic
planting system is one solution for limited agricultural land
problems in major cities because it uses medium without soil.
Water is the main medium used for hydroponic cultivation
and also for measurement of the degree of acidity (pH) is one
factor that influences the growth of hydroponics. The
purpose of this research is to design a pH monitoring system
for hydroponic plants that can be accessed by smartphones
using Blynk application connected to NodeMCU and WiFi
networks. The resulted data from experiment shows that pH
for hydroponic plants are ranging from 5 to 8. Experiment
and calibration of pH meter of this prototype has the
precision of 98%, with the average of error reading is about
0.77% and optimal time of reading is one minute. The device
can be read by Blynk users up to 40 meters from the device
using Wi-Fi connection.
Key word: Internet of Things (IoT), Hydroponics, pH, Arduino
IDE.
I. INTRODUCTION
The development of technology in this modern age has
influenced many sectors such as information, education,
social and culture sector, also in the agricultural sector.
Agriculture is one of important factor to community life.
This sector supports the availability of food for people.
Along with the development of technology, the
agricultural sector also has gained experience for better
development. Hydroponic cultivation techniques are
divided into 3 types which are hydroponic culture
aggregate, culture water and hydroponic nutrient film
technique [1]. Hydroponic can be interpreted as
empowering the water. Hydroponic is a technique of
cultivation without soil or often referred to soilless culture
which has been applied by the community to satisfy the
needs of food as the agricultural land is limited [1].
Some of things to take note in the application of
hydroponic method besides planting medium are water
quality, light, nutrients, temperature and oxygen. Water is
the main medium used in hydroponic cultivation. To
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ensure that the used water is clean and free from
contaminants, it can be seen from the color, smell and the
degree of acidity (pH). Measurement of the degree of
acidity (pH) is one of important factors for determining
hydroponic plant growth [2].
Currently, there are electronic devices for measuring
the degree of acidity (pH), but they are not portable. This
research was conducted in order to improve the existed
device. This research was also related to the growing
number of smartphone users at this time.
It is necessary to do an experiment in this research by
designing the “Design and Implementation System for
Monitoring PH Hydroponics Plants Based on NodeMCU
ESP8266-07”. The variable in this research was pH value
measured by pH meter.
II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The data collection mechanism is divided into several
criteria, including data retrieval of pH calibration test
result, data retrieval of pH on hydroponic plants and data
retrieval of testing the Wi-Fi distance.
Data retrieval from the pH calibration test results was
conducted by calibrating pH buffer powder. The observed
data of pH, were changed into voltage units.
Data collection of this research was carried out at the
hydroponics garden. There measured the pH directly on
the hydroponic plants, measurements were also made
using a reference pH meter to see the precision level of the
device.
Data retrieval of time optimal pH prototype data
reading and testing the Wi-Fi distance is done directly
when collecting data in the greenhouse. Retrieving Wi-Fi
distance testing results by walking away from the object
from the starting point to reach the maximum limit of Wi-
Fi distance.
Figure 2.1 shows flowchart of research start from
study literature, data collecting with the calibration and
testing hydroponic plants, testing Wi-Fi distance and data
analysis.
(Y. Wahyuni, A. Mujadin, Octarina) (Design System for Monitoring PH Hydroponics Based on NodeMCU ESP8266-07)

START 2. Data Retrieval of Hydroponic Plants

There are 7 types of vegetable plants used during the

STUDY LITERATURE
experiment inclusing endive lettuce, kale nero, letus
lolorosa, kale curley, pakcoy, red spinach and samhong
king mustard. The plants measured and each plant was
DATA COLLECTING measured twice with 1 minutes interval, at greenhouse
temperature of 31.4 ° C and 38% Humidity.

CALIBRATION Table 3.1 pH value measument from different plants

NO

TESTING
HYDROPONIC
PLANTS

YES

TESTING WIFI DISTANCES

DATA ANALYS

STOP

Figure 2.1 Flow chart of research.

Table 3.1 is pH data retrieval of 7 types of

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION hydroponic vegetable plants. By using a reference pH
meter as a comparison, the measurement is repeated twice,
Design and implementation system for pH monitoring
the first measurement and after 1 minutes left. The result
for hydroponic plants based on NodeMCU ESP8266-07
on the table show that the optimal pH was obtained 1
consists of three data retrieval including:
minute after the measurement using the prototype, when
1. Data Retrieval Solution pH Calibration Test the prototype was dipped into the plant to approach a
Result precise value. It can be concluded that when pH value is
In this step a test will be run and the data is collected increasing, the voltage value will decrease and it gives
from the calibration results using 4.00 and 6.86 pH buffer proves that the voltage divider circuit is successfully
powder solution. The test is done by measuring the applied to the device. The graph of pH value for 7 type of
calibration of the pH solution into voltage units, the results plants is shown in Figure 3.2.
of calibration measurement using pH buffer powder
shows the relationship between voltage and pH. PH 4 =
0.73 volt and pH 6.86 = 0.62 volt. It can be concluded that
when pH value is increased then the voltage value will be
decreasing, graph of pH value and voltage relation is
shown in figure 3.1.

Figure 3.2 Graph of result of 7 type plants

Figure 3.2 shows the pH accuracy level of the prototype

when taking the first measurement and the second
measurement after the optimum time of 1 minute. The
measurement after 1 minute is better than the first
measurement. This is because the measurement has
reached optimal time with a constant value after 1 minute.
Figure 3.1 Graph of pH calibration result

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(Y. Wahyuni, A. Mujadin, Octarina) (Design System for Monitoring PH Hydroponics Based on NodeMCU ESP8266-07)

Error between the result measure pH meter and

pH prototype:

Table 3.2 Error between the result measure pH meter and

pH prototype

Table 3.2 explains that the measurement of pH

meter and result first measurement of pH prototype. The
pH of prototype value in the first measurement is still
quite far from the manual pH meter value. The result
measurement between manual pH meter and pH prototype
first measurement shown an insignificant difference,
based on percentage error formula:

𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 −𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

𝛥𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100 (2)
𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

Figure 3.4. Graph of error after 1 minute

Figure 3.4 shows a graph of the measurement

error after 1 minute. The value obtained by the pH
prototype has been fairly precise with the average error of
0.77%.

3. Data Retrieval of Testing the Wi-Fi Distance

At third experiment, the WiFi distance between device

and plants was tested. The results of the data shown in
table 3.4.
Figure 3.3 Graph of error the first measurement result
Table 3.4 Wi-Fi distance testing
Figure 3.3 shows the graph of error of the first
measurement result, the value obtained by pH prototype is Distance Connection
less precisive with an average error of 2.08%, while the
value of maximum relative error is 5%. 10 meters Connected

Error of the result measurement between pH 20 meters Connected

meter and pH prototype after 1 minute
30 meters Connected
The measurement result between reference pH
meter and pH prototype after 1 minute shows that pH 40 meters (outdoor) Connected
probes have detected water hydroponic plants
appropriately. 41 meters (outdoor) Disconnected

Table 3.3 Error of the result measurement between pH

meter and pH prototype after 1 minute

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(Y. Wahyuni, A. Mujadin, Octarina) (Design System for Monitoring PH Hydroponics Based on NodeMCU ESP8266-07)

IV. CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) system for
pH monitoring in hydroponics plants based on NodeMCU
ESP8266-07 has been successfully designed and applied
to hydroponic plants. Obtained results of pH value are
inversely proportional with the voltage value plants liquid.
The reason is because of the use of voltage divider in the
system design. Experiment result of pH reading on the
hydroponic garden has the accuracy of 98%, with an
average error of 0.77% and optimal time of one minute
after the device is dipped into the plants. Maximum
distance of Wi-Fi that can be reached by this device is 40
meters in outdoor and the optimal distance of Wi-Fi from
the hardware to the Blynk users is approximately 1 meter
without interruption or disconnection.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thank you for Mr. Anwar mujadin, S.T., M.T as the

author and for all contributions until the research was
completed and submitted to the ELKHA journal.
Thank you to Ms. Octarina Nur Samijayani, S.T.,
M.Sc as head of the electrical engineering department and
Mr. Ir. Hidayat Yorianta Sasaerila, M.Sc., PhD, Dean of
the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University
of Al-Azhar Indonesia who has given permission and
provided funds until the research was submitted to the
ELKHA journal.

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