Individual assignment on Applications and Implications.

What will it do?

It will tell us the most optimized way to grow azolla in control environment.In my filnal project I have plane to optimize double the growth of azolla by controlling the intensity of light, humidify and temperature. Azolla is unique because it is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet – yet it does not need any soil to grow. Unlike almost all other plants, azolla is able to get its nitrogen fertilizer directly from the atmosphere. That means that it is able to produce biofertilizer, livestock feed, food and biofuel exactly where they are needed and, at the same time, draw down large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere, thus helping to reduce the threat of climate change. Azolla is able to do this because it has a unique mutually beneficial ‘symbiotic relationship‘ with a cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) called Anabaena.

There is an ever increasing demand for milk, meat and egg. The production often fails to cope up with demand with the result the prices of livestock production are going up. 70–80% of the cost of production of livestock is feed cost, and this is increasing on an average 10-15% per annum. Protein part of livestock feed is the costliest part. There is a global deficit of plant protein sources, for feed production for livestock, which act as a major source of protein for humans. This is made good by chemical protein equivalents like urea, anabolic boosters like steroids which affect both the health and longevity of livestock and human consumers

Azolla is the best solution for all the problems its good source of proteins Its high content in essential amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B12, Beta Carotene), growth promoter intermediaries and minerals. Moreover, it improves the quantity and quality of milk, meat etc. by 5–10% production.

In our Vigyan ashram we are designing the condition such that the growth rate of Azolla is double in three days. But the there are some constraints like light intensity, temperature and humidity.

Light affects the photosynthesis and regulate nitrogenase activity in azolla and anabaena. Azolla species generally grow best in less than full sunlight except in high latitudes during spring.Under high sunlight intensities azolla fronds turn brick red. Low light intensities, for example under a dense growth of rice, cause azolla to suffer or die.

Azolla is also able to tolerant a wide range of temperatures and some species can survive in temperatures as low as -5oC. The growth of azolla is typically reduced above 35oC and no species can survive if temperatures remain above 45oC for prolonged periods of time.The optimum temperatures for most species are between 18oC and 28oC, although this can be as high as 30oC for species such as A. pinnata .It is found that the 70% humidity is enough good for growth of Azolla .

With all the above constraints I have tried the following things that my project will do it.

It consist of tetrahydro like frame structure.

It covered with Polyethylene on upper side and outer sides consist of triangular acrylic sheets.

It consist of lightening source which produced the constant intensity.

It consist of exhaust and fan pad system which is used as humidifier as well as cooling system.

It consist of water pump for circulating water with maintain oxygen in water.

Tray for Azolla.

It consist of BME 280 (Temperature & Humidity sensor) and BH 1750 light sensor.

Basically it work like closed chamber , which consist of control light intensity ,temperature and humidity sensor .As the temperature of the closed chamber is greater than 25 C and humidity is less than 70% the exhaust fan and water pump will be on and off automatically by maintaining the same .The variation in the data values can be recorded and analyzed by sending on cloud. With this condition trying to double the growth of azolla.

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Who has done what beforehand?

Traditionally, azolla is cultivated in paddy fields along as a "biofertilizer” . They grow on the water logged rice fields and help in nitrogen fixation. This helps to boost production of rice.

Primary work was done by Dr. kamalasannan Pillai . He setup an innovative way to cultivate azolla for farmers to improve the soil nitrogen content. He is also called the the azolla man of India.

The people of "The Azolla Foundation" have also well documented the way of cultivating azolla. They have proposed ways to grow azolla on their website.

Azolla is an amazing plant! Climate foundation focused on “How azolla change the earth.”

In Vigyan ashram lot of work carried out on Azolla, Design Innovation Center (DIC) continuously work on factors affecting the growth of Azolla.

The present paper "A review of some ecological factors affecting the growth of Azolla spp." gives an overview of some important ecological factors affecting Azolla’s growth over the past few decades. Moreover, for the most ecological variables discussed in this study, the authors refer to their recent publications for the habitat requirements of Azolla in Anzali wetland.

In the Research Article "Azolla pinnata Growth Performance in Different Water Sources" , Azolla pinnata R.Br. growth performance experiments in different water sources were conducted from May until July 2011 at Aquaculture Research Station, Puchong, Malaysia. Four types of water sources (waste water, drain water, paddy field water and distilled water) each with different nutrient contents were used to grow and evaluate the growth performance of A. pinnata.

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What will you design?

In vigyan ashram for growing the Azolla and related test basically used the dome shape structure which having its own benefits. while discussing with Mr. Dixit he told me that why will not trying other shape of dome? So, I decide to used tetrahedron shape for my project. For designing the structure of project I used the Rhino.6 CAD sowtware. The design basically consist of tetrahedron shape with each side having length of 2 Feets. The sides of the structures are perfect equilateral triangle. On one side, it consist of circular hole for exhaust fan and on the other side it consist of rectangular cut for fan pad system .The assembly as shown in the image.

Assembly design in Rhino.

I have design a fan pad holder for holding the fan pad as shown in the image.

Fan pad holder design .

I have design press fit rectangular box for safety of the microcontroller board.

Box for microcontroller board.

I have used ESP32 MCU for my project. So ,design microcontroller board by using Eagle software for more details click here.The schematic and board diagram as shown. Also design switching circuit for exhaust fan and water pump system in output devices.

I have design small net for submersible water pump.

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What materials and components will be used?

Azolla Pinnata (10g wet weight)

Plastic tray (1)

Water Pump (1)

Exahust fan(1)

ESP32 wroom 32D(1)

BME280(Temperature & Humidity sensor)

BH 1750(Light sensor)

Power LED(10)

DC power adapter 12V (2 nos)

Relay 5VDC(1)

N channel MOSFET (1)

BC 548 transistor (1)

Electronics stuff like resistors, capacitors, connector pins ,power jack, ribbon cable.

Green house plastic Film

Acrylic sheet

Square metal pipe (0.75'')

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Where will it come from?

Most of the above components are available in our Fab Lab inventory and Vigyan ashram work shop inventory.ESP32 wroom 32D, BH 1750(Light sensor),Exhaust fan are going to buy online.

How much will they cost?

Bill of Material(BOM)

Components/Material	Quantity	Link of Vendors	Price
ESP32 wroom 32D	1	Amazon	350
BME280(Temperature & Humidity sensor)	1	FAB Inventory	645
BH 1750(Light sensor)	1	Robu.in	119
Power LED	10	FAB Inventory	400
Water Pump	1	FAB Inventory	100
Exahust fan	1	Amazon	599
DC power adapter 12V	2	FAB Inventory	240
Relay 5VDC	1	FAB Inventory	100
N channel MOSFET	1	FAB Inventory	16
BC 548 transistor	1	FAB Inventory	50
Square metal pipe (0.75'')	20 feet	Local Vendor	350

Approximate cost of the project material is Rs.2969/- .

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What parts and systems will be made?

In Rhino I have design the 3D model of dome of my project. By using TMT metal bar, I have made the trial frame of dome. Also use square pipe for final one.

Created the fan pad holder and MCU box with by using acrylic and cut with the laser cutter.

Print the net for the submersible water pump by using Fracktral work 3D printer.

Milled, stuff and solder the ESP32 microcontroller board.

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What processes will be used?

CAD designing using Rhino.6 : Use to design 2D and 3D parts of project assembly.

Laser Cutting : For cutting acrylic sheet.

3D Printing for creating pump net.

Eagle Software : For making ESP32 MCU board design ,switch circuit board.

Arduino IDE for programing the micro-controller.

PCB milling/electronics production

Embedded programing

Input devices & Out put Devices : Interfacing and programming BME280( Temperature & humidity sensor ) and BH 1750(light sensor) with ESP32 microcontroller board and use Exahust fan and water pump as output devices.

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What questions need to be answered?

What is the feasible shape of dome for the control growth of azolla inside the laboratory?

How we can maintain the temperature and humidity with the required range with given structure?

Is fan pad system being sufficient for maintaining temperature and humidity?

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How will it be evaluated?

Whether the parameters temperature ,humidity and light intensity can be maintain ?

Whether Azolla will live and grow in the control system?

If azolla grow in the chamber ,what is the growth rate of azolla?

Is the design system being ideal for the azolla growth?

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SAMS-Smart Azolla Multiplier System by Anand S. Tale is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0