Development and Evaluation of Low Cost Indoor Hydroponic Green Fodder Production System

Abstract

Aim: To develop an indoor hydroponic fodder production system tailored for small-scale farmers. Study Design: The system's performance was evaluated based on growth metrics, water use efficiency, and crude protein and fiber content. Place and Duration of Study: A.M. Reddy Memorial College of Engineering and Technology, Narasaraopet, palnadu, Andhra Pradesh and 2 to 3 months. Methodology: Indoor hydroponic fodder production is a sustainable and innovative approach to addressing the fodder scarcity faced by livestock farmers. This study focuses on the development and evaluation of an indoor hydroponic system designed to produce maize fodder under controlled conditions without sunlight. A two-tier hydroponic structure was fabricated using locally available materials, equipped with LED spectrum lights and irrigation systems utilizing foggers and emitters. Results: It shows that fodder grown under LED lights yielded 3.5 kg per tray with a water use efficiency of 825.9 kg/m³, significantly outperforming the fodder grown without LED lights. Additionally, the crude protein and crude fiber content under LED lights were 12.44% and 9.49%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that hydroponic systems can significantly enhance fodder quality and yield, offering a viable solution for resource-scarce regions. Conclusion: The indoor hydroponic fodder production system designed and evaluated to address the challenges of limited land, water scarcity, and the need for high-quality livestock feed.