Compact hydroponic tray system developed

A modular hydroponic tray system suitable for cultivation in limited urban spaces has been developed at the Maker Village in Kinfra Hi-Tech Park, Kalamassery, and Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).

The system has been developed by Santosh Kumar M.B., Head of the Department of Information Technology at Cusat, and Pradeep Kumar P., CEO of X Boson AI Pvt Ltd. The design of the device has been officially granted a patent by the Government of India under the title ‘Hydroponic Device for Improving Plant Growth,’ according to a release.

Each tray can support up to nine plants and features a fully self-contained nutrient reservoir that allows continuous nutrient circulation without external tanks or complex plumbing. Its significantly reduced water usage makes it ideal for homes, urban farms, and small controlled environments.

The modular structure of the system allows users to scale from a single tray to larger multi-unit setups as needed. It supports home-based micro-farming, research applications, and smart city agriculture initiatives. The system offers a practical solution for efficient cultivation by addressing challenges such as limited space, water conservation, and ease of adoption, it said.