UNS – A memorable achievement is delivered by the students of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta in Kendari, Sulawesi Tenggara, during a National Scientific Writing Competition (Lomba Karya Tulis Ilmiah Nasional-LKTIN) Scientific Week, organized by Lingkar Studi Ilmiah Penalaran, Universitas Halu Oleo, on Friday to Sunday (13-15/3/2020).
The UNS team that consists of Agung Prasetyo, student of Informatics Education Study Program 2016, Adip Safiudin, student of Electronics Study Program 2016, and Aji Tri Hardono a student of Diploma Program 4 in Demography and Civil Registration 2016, has successfully achieved the second winner in the competition. Under the supervision from Sri Wahyuningsih Yulianti, S.H., M.H., the team has successfully conducted research entitled “Innovation in the Utilization of House Yard as Vegetable Bank using Hydroponic Tower Planting Method with an Automatic Water Management. The product delivered is called Hydroponic Tower, which equipped with automatic irrigation using a microcontroller.
The idea started with one of the members who already establish a hydroponic in their backyard. After meeting and establish a team, they create innovation on the existing hydroponic.
“We try to innovate in the hydroponic system. Thus, the hydroponic that usually build vertically is transformed into a horizontal and we add an automatic tool, thus the irrigation work automatically,” said Agung, one of the team members.
The difference between vertical and horizontal hydroponic is the area needed. The land needed in horizontal hydroponic is a minimum of 3×2 meters. For the vertical hydroponic, only 1×1 meter land is needed.
The team wants to develop the idea they have with an expectation that this can thrive. Moreover, it can be applied in daily life and can be patented. They hope they can inspire others who live in an urban area to cultivate vegetables even though their yard is narrow.
“Can inspire or encourage people in urban areas especially, to be able to cultivate vegetables even if the yard is cramped,” Agung added. Humas UNS/Zalfaa
