Masters Theses
Abstract
"Control of water and oxygen (O2) in the root zone is vital to support plant growth in the microgravity environment. The ability to control these sometimes-opposing parameters in the root-zone is dependent upon the availability of sensors to detect these elements and provide feedback for control systems. In the present study we demonstrate the feasibility of using microsensor arrays on a flexible. substrate for dissolved O2 detection with two representative plant growth systems: a porous tube (PT) system and a substrate-based system. Additionally, we demonstrate using a conductivity-based 4-point microprobe (FPM) for wetness detection in both the plant growth systems. The flexible dissolved O2 microsensor (FDOM) reported O2 concentrations on the PT surface that correlated with that of the solution inside the PT when operated at positive pressures. At negative pressures the FDOM shows convergence to zero saturation (2.2 μmol/L) due to inadequate water film formation on porous tube surface. In the substrate-based nutrient delivery system the results revealed the different saturation effects taking place and that the FDOM undergoes saturation to a larger extent by the nutrient solution than the commercial oxygen probe (COP) at both positive and negative pressures. In both systems, the FDOM exhibits high sensitiveness to oxygen without any significant stirring sensitivity. The FPM is- useful as a wetness detector as it provides a clear differentiation between dry and wet surfaces. The unique features of our FDOM and FPM include miniaturization and flexibility. The demonstrated technology is expected to provide low cost and highly reliable sensor feedback monitoring for plant growth nutrient delivery systems in both terrestrial and microgravity environments"--Abstract, page iii.
Advisor(s)
Kim, Chang-Soo
Committee Member(s)
Porterfield, D. M.
Rao, Vittal S.
Department(s)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Degree Name
M.S. in Electrical Engineering
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Publication Date
Summer 2004
Pagination
viii, 61 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 58-60
Rights
© 2004 Sandeep Sathyan, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Subject Headings
Detectors -- Design and constructionFeedback control systemsReduced gravity environmentsMicroelectromechanical systems
Thesis Number
T 8622
Print OCLC #
58554051
Recommended Citation
Sathyan, Sandeep, "Flexible microsensor array for monitoring dissolved oxygen and water content in the plant root zone" (2004). Masters Theses. 2660.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/2660
Share My Thesis If you are the author of this work and would like to grant permission to make it openly accessible to all, please click the button above.
