Abstract

The proponents of the study aim to innovate the field of Agriculture with the field of
Mechanical Engineering. A solar powered hybrid rotary hydroponics garden was produced on
the fifth floor of the Bunzel Building of University of San Carlos Talamban Campus, Cebu
Philippines. The study designed, fabricated and tested a hybrid solar powered rotary hydroponics
gardening system that prolongs the usual 12-hour photosynthesis period to 24 hours. The drive
mechanism was tested if the design speed is attained. The grow lights was tested if the design
illuminance (lx) was attained. The irrigation system was tested if the design flow rate was
attained. Black Behi Pechay (Brassica rapa) was grown on both rotary hydroponic gardening
system and soil. The growing capability of the gardening system was tested by comparing the
morphometry of Black Behi Pechay cultivated in rotary hydroponic system to soil-grown Black
Behi Pechay (Brassica rapa). The gardening system prolonged the photosynthesis period by
installing LED lights as an artificial light source during night time. The rotational motion of the
gardening system provided uniform distribution of the light source. The Rotary Hydroponics
Garden unit was designed to rotate 1 revolution per hour. In a given 1-meter-by-1-meter area, the
Rotary Hydroponics Unit was able to plant 64 pechay, while the conventional method of farming
which is the use of soil catered only 12 pechay. This is a significant yield given that the area for
farming is limited nowadays. Furthermore, two healthy growing period was achieved in the
study. The Pechay grown in the rotary hydroponic gardening system harvested after 18 days
from transplanting. The growing period was 3 days earlier compared to the usual growing period
if pechay is planted in soil with only 12 hours of photosynthesis.