THESIS TITLE

Master Thesis

by

Mhamad Fadel Hjeij, 41330162

Mhamad Hassan Najem, 41530031

Submitted to the School of Engineering of the

Lebanese International University

Beirut, Lebanon

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Fall 2020 - 2021

Approved By

Title 1st_name last_name

Supervisor Date Signature

Title 1st_name last_name

Committee Member Date Signature

Title 1st_name last_name

Committee Member Date Signature

Write your dedication.

ii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledge everyone who helped you.

iii
 ABSTRACT

Abstract of the thesis or the project.

iv
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION............................................................................................................II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................III

ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................IV

TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................V

LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................VII

LIST OF TABLES..................................................................................................VIII

LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................IX

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................1

1.1.1. Introduction:.............................................................................................1

1.1.2. Hydroponic fodder production:................................................................2

1.1.2.1. Effects on digestibility:...................................................................3

1.1.2.2. Effects on milk yield and composition:..........................................3

1.1.2.3. Water use efficiency.......................................................................4

1.1.2.4. Conclusion......................................................................................4

LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................5

1.2. research.............................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 2. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS.........................................................7

2.1. Level 2 Section.................................................................................................7

2.2. Equations...........................................................................................................7

CHAPTER 3. DESIGN................................................................................................8

3.1. Level 2 Section.................................................................................................8

CHAPTER 4. NON-TECHNICAL ASPECTS..........................................................9

4.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................9
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 4.2. Economical/Financial.......................................................................................9

4.3. Project Management.........................................................................................9

4.4. Ethical and Social...........................................................................................10

4.5. Environmental and Sustainability...................................................................10

4.6. Standards.........................................................................................................10

CHAPTER 5. RESULTS...........................................................................................12

5.1. Level 2 Section...............................................................................................12

CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSION..................................................................................13

APPENDIX A. TITLE OF THE APP A..................................................................14

A.1. Level 2 in Appendix, Apply Heading 6.........................................................14

A.1.1. Level 3 in Appendix, Apply Heading 7................................................14

A.1.1.1. Level 4 in Appendix, apply Heading 8........................................14

A.1.2. Equations in Appendix A......................................................................14

APPENDIX B. TITLE OF THE APP B...................................................................16

B.1. Level 2 Section, Apply Heading 2.................................................................16

B.2. For the References:.........................................................................................16

B.2.1. To Cite a New Reference......................................................................17

B.2.2. Equations in Appendix B......................................................................17

REFERENCES...........................................................................................................18

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.1. Goat eating grass.........................................................................................1

Figure 1.2. Hydroponic fodder trays with maize seeds.................................................2

Figure 2.1.Trays on rack................................................................................................6

Figure 3.1. First figure in chapter III.............................................................................7

Figure 4.1. First figure in chapter IV.............................................................................8

Figure A.1. First figure in appendix A.........................................................................14

Figure B.1. First figure in appendix B.........................................................................16

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 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 Mild Yield on 2 group of cows.........................................................................3

Table 3. First table in Appendix A...............................................................................14

Table 4. First Table in Appendix B.............................................................................16

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 LIST OF SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

In alphanumerical order.

ix
 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

1.1.1. Introduction:

Grass is the natural diet for animal livestock. For a high quality dairy farming, quality
green grass should be fed regularly to the dairy animals. However, due to many
reasons, green grass production has been facing a serious crisis and so the dairy cow
productivity. The major constraints in production of green grass by dairy farmers are
the unavailability of land for cultivation due to small land holding size of the farm,
more growth time and natural calamities. Further, the non-availability of green grass
round the year cause problems for dairy farming. Due to these constraints,
hydroponics fodder technology becomes as an alternative way for growing grass for
farm animals.
The technology of grass fodder production is especially important in the regions
where forage production is limited due to natural calamities. The grass fodder is
produced from grains, having a high germination rate and grown for a short period of
time in a special conditions area that provides the appropriate growing conditions.
The adoption of this technique has enabled the production of fresh forage from oats,
barley, wheat and other grains. Over recent years, severe shortages in feed supplies
for livestock have been experienced in many countries due to repeated droughts as
well as shortages of water for irrigation.
Therefore, many projects to produce forages have been established during the last two
decades to cover some green and dry forage needs in these countries. [1]
Goal and automation of the project
Fonts introduction
Literature review
ladder

Figure 1.1. Goat eating grass.

Grass fodder is produced by growing plants in water but without using any soil is known as
hydroponics fodder or sprouted grains or sprouted fodder.
Hydroponics is a technology that has revolutionized the green fodder production in the 21st century.
Hydroponics is a method of growing green fodder without soil in environmentally controlled houses or
machines.
Hydroponic fodder is an effective solution for fodder scarcity and is very promising for sustainable
livestock production in different regions. It is essentially the germination of a seed and sprouted into a
high quality, highly nutritious, disease-free animal food in a hygienic environment free of chemicals
like insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and artificial growth promoters. This process takes place in a
very versatile and intensive hydroponic growing unit where only supplying cereal grain with necessary
water, nutrients and sunlight to produce a grass and root combination that is very lush and high in
nutrients. This green fodder is extremely high in protein and metabolizable energy, which is highly
digestible by most animals.
Hydroponics is a year-round growing system that produces a consistent quantity and quality
of plant material or fodder, regardless of outside weather.
In hydroponics fodder production technology, water-soaked seeds are kept on trays and allowed to
germinate (sprout) inside controlled environment for a short duration. Green fodder production takes 6
to 10 days with a 0.5m3 usage of water for production of 1
tons of feed in the area of about 100m2. From 1kg seeds, it can be possible to grow 6-10kg
of green fodder. In addition to this, recycling of water in hydroponic fodder production system allows
solving problems related to water scarcity. At
the end of the growing period, the fodder is fed to livestock as a supplement in the same way that hay
and silage are currently used. [2]

Figure 1.2. Hydroponic fodder trays with maize seeds.

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1.1.2.1. Effects on digestibility:

Nutrient digestibility increased by using sprouted grains in the ruminant diet. This may be due to the
presence of bioactive catalysts which increases digestion and absorption
of nutrients and the release of energy. The addition of sprouted grains
increases nutrient digestibility; increased digestibility by using sprouted grain in the
diet of broilers and large animals. This was achieved possibly by changes in rate and extent of
digestion and absorption. During germination, enzymes are produced which reduces the viscosity of the
digesta and improves the digestion and absorption of nutrients. This is also due to the presence of grass
juice factor. [3]

1.1.2.2. Effects on milk yield and composition:

Hydroponic fodder can help to improve the quality and quantity of milk production. Research results
indicated that milk yield was improved. There were 3.9% increase in the milk yield due to feeding of
hydroponics barley fodder (Heins and Paulson, 2016) and 13.7% increase in the milk yield due to
feeding of hydroponics maize fodder. This improvement may be due to increase in nutrient quality of
hydroponic fodder through sprouting. Early research
on hydroponic sprout reported the presence of a grass juice factor that improved livestock performance.
More recent research has also indicated that hydroponic sprouts are a rich source of nutrient and they
contain the grass juice factors that improve the performance of livestock. A study on dairy cows
supplemented with hydroponic barley (10kg) indicated that milk yield was increased significantly
(16.14 vs. 13.49 litre/day). And a slight improvement in milk protein, milk fat and total solids in dairy
goat.
A test completed on milk production with a diet of fodder versus one of the normal feeds such as grain,
hay or silage showed a vast improvement in milk production and butterfat content. A group of 60 cows
on a fodder diet increased their milk production by 10.07%. In addition, the fodder fed group also
produced a butterfat content of 14.26% higher as compared to those fed on a regular diet. In another
study from Canadian, there was an increase in 3.6kg per day milk production per cow over the lactation
period. Furthermore, from South Africa, milking cows dropped 3.6 litres of milk per milking after
leaving off the green fodder, which was fed at
the rate of 6.8kg per day. Results also revealed that milk yield was increased by
0.5-2.5 litres/animal/day due to the feeding of hydroponic fodder to dairy animals.
They were concluded that malt sprouts were increased the whole milk yield and milk fat content. [4]

Table 1 Mild Yield on 2 group of cows

3
1.1.2.3. Water use efficiency

Water is one of the basic requirements for seed germination and seedling growth as it is essential for
enzyme activation, reserve storage breakdown, translocation, and use
in seed germination and seedling growth. Hydroponically produced fodder was found to enhance the
efficiency of water use (WUE). Some reported that hydroponic green fodder production technique
requires only about 10–20% of the water needed to produce the same amount of crop in soil culture.
While Al-Karaki and Al- Momani reported that only 3–5% of water is needed to produce the same
amount of fodder in comparison to that produced under field conditions. Similar data were
reported by other researchers. Producing green fodders under hydroponic conditions
is a highly efficient process in terms of water saving when compared to field production of green
fodders. [5][6]

1.1.2.4. Conclusion

Dairy cattle require green fodder for high milk yield. However, it cannot available throughout the year
and in some area, it is difficult to have access for green fodder. Thus, hydroponic fodder production has
become an alternative way to fulfill this green fodder requirement of the dairy cow. The adoption of
this technique has enabled the production of fresh forage from grains without soil. Hydroponic fodder
has high nutritive value due to the
conversion of complex compounds into simpler and essential form, and activation of enzymes during
germination. Thus, it contains high protein, vitamins and minerals which are essential for dairy cows.
There were improvements in digestibility and intake of nutrients results in increased milk yields and
quality like milk fat of dairy cow on the
feeding of hydroponic fodder. In general, research data on dairy cows is limited to determine
definitively whether
or not feeding the fodder changes production enough to warrant the additional cost. Therefore, this area
requires further information to draw a concrete conclusion about feeding hydroponic fodder.

Nutrition and feeding of problem cattle

Using the sciences of nutrition, microbiology and biochemistry combined to produce the best foods for

dairy cattle. For high milk production cattle requires a healthy food system that supplies by

carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals vitamins and water. Upraising cows constitute 15%–

20% of dairy farm expenses and usually is the second or third highest cost on the dairy farm. Feed cost

is the greatest expense while labor is the second or third greatest expense. It is estimated that the cost of

growing a cow from birth to calving is approximately $2,300 in the Northeastern US [1]

The central problem in Lebanon concentrated on the high cost and storage of cattle foods. After raising

the dollar price vs. Lebanon currency the cost of feed was equivalent to 600,000LL per ton, a ton

became between 800,000LL and 1,000,000 depends on the exchange rate. The cow with the currency

difference started to eat an amount of 35,000LL/day and produced milk between 20 and 24 liters or

about 24,000LL, so after we used to win 5,000LL/day in selling milk, we started losing on The cow is

4
between 9 and 11,000LL, which led to the tendency of most farmers to slaughter their cows and sell

their meat. [2]

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153313/

[2] https://www.lebanese-forces.com/2020/02/05/agricultural-season

LITERATURE REVIEW

1.2. RESEARCH

In this paper a farm will be presented with all shop drawings, system design and system installation.

We are looking forward to achieve a goal of healthy livestock and cattle for a high milk quality and

production. Over the recent century many farmers found the solution for animals to have green grass

over the year. It is a method of sprouting seeds on shelfs and racks in controlled room temperature and

humidity and some in fresh air with nets to avoid insect entrance. Researchers found that in some areas

5
fodder should be in a room for a quality fodder because of the role of temperature and humidity that

affects 90% of the final product. For a small to medium farms that contains 20 cows a room of 15m2 is

enough for racks, trays and system installation because we are vertically placing trays.

One tray holds 0.5 to 1 kg of seeds after being soaked in water for 12 hour. One tray can produce from

5 to 10 kg of fresh green fodder.

Steel racks or aluminium or even PVC can be installed to hold the trays for 7 days till cropping. A

variety of seeds can be grown to maintain a healthy diet for cattle; such as barely, wheat, alfalfa and

maize. To fulfil all nutrient needs, one should know what to feed.

The room which production is taking place in is controlled with PLC thus a variety of sensors are

taking control of the room temperature and humidity. Thus an AC and a sprinkler are needed.

Moreover a pump system is needed for irrigation and a drain system to collect unused water and filter it

for water use reduction. 16 hours of light are needed per day, we need special LED or fluorescent for

germination.

Figure 2.3.Trays on rack.

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 CHAPTER 2. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

2.1. LEVEL 2 SECTION

The project specifications and requirements are the topic of this chapter. We

don’t expect a long chapter here (around 2 pages).

Figure 3.4. First figure in chapter III.

2.2. EQUATIONS

For the equations, the best practice is to Copy-Paste-Edit the equation below

then update it by selection the number and hitting F9 on your Keyboard, then Edit the

equation.

2
A=π r (3.1)

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 CHAPTER 3. DESIGN

3.1. LEVEL 2 SECTION

This chapter presents the design itself in terms: block diagrams, detailed

architecture, and calculation.

Figure 4.5. First figure in chapter IV.

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 CHAPTER 4. NON-TECHNICAL ASPECTS

4.1. INTRODUCTION

Every Senior Project, Capstone Project and Master Thesis Project report

must include sections that cover non-technical aspects. These sections can form one

chapter or can be explicitly embedded in the report chapters. The following sections

present the recommended aspects with brief descriptions.

4.2. ECONOMICAL/FINANCIAL

A cost-benefit analysis justifying the viability of the project should be done.

Students should include a bill of material (BoM) detailing the material (parts,

components, tools, …) needed for the project along with their estimated costs.  The

estimated labor effort (hours/days) should also be included.  Benefits may be tangible

(Savings, reductions, or similar items that may quantified) and intangible (Stress,

comfort, satisfaction, …).

4.3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Definition of project scope, stakeholders, risks, schedule and milestones

should be captured using appropriate tools, artifacts and best practices. 

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4.4. ETHICAL AND SOCIAL

Integrity, honesty, prudence, fairness, respect, conflict of interest, social

responsibility, equity, confidentiality, informed consent and common good should be

assessed to examine the potential effects of the project deployment in the target

community. This may be best understood as comparing the “intent” of the project

versus the “impact” as it compares the good that you and your design team intend for

your customer to the way in which the design contributes to this notion of a common

good in society.

4.5. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SUSTAINABILITY

How the implementation of the project would impact the community

environment and sustainability? This is crucial as the environment is something to be

both cared for and enjoyed by society at large.  Special considerations include: 

Reduction of waste production and pollution, Energy conservation and energy

renewal, maintaining natural resources, community health, safety, and welfare etc.

4.6. STANDARDS

The project should assess the proposed solution in the context of relevant

engineering standards and applied constraints.  Engineering standards are commonly

used in the design and evaluation of engineering products. These standards are

commonly created by independent domestic or international organizations,

government regulatory agencies, as well as industry sponsored organizations.

Standards may relate to topics as diverse as standard material definitions,

as finite element analysis (FEA); manufacturing processes; and testing and evaluation

procedures. Among the most well-known standards organizations are the following:

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ASTM International, American

National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Institute of Standards and Technology,

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), etc.

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 CHAPTER 5. RESULTS

5.1. LEVEL 2 SECTION

This chapter presents the simulation and/or measurement results. It could

compare them with the requirements and any design calculation performed in the

design chapter.

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 CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSION

Conclusion of the project.

13
 APPENDIX A. TITLE OF THE APP A

A.1. LEVEL 2 IN APPENDIX, APPLY HEADING 6

For the captions in Appendices, you must use copy-paste from the figures

and tables below.

Figure A.6. First figure in appendix A.

Table 2. First table in Appendix A

A-D A B C D
1 A1 B1 C1 D1
2 A2 B2 C2 D2
3 A3 B3 C3 D3

A.1.1. Level 3 in Appendix, Apply Heading 7

A.1.1.1. Level 4 in Appendix, apply Heading 8

A.1.2. Equations in Appendix A

14
 For the equations in Appendix, the best practice is to Copy-Paste-Edit the

equation below then update it by selection the number and hitting F9 on your

Keyboard, then Edit the equation.

A=π r 2 (A.1)

15
 APPENDIX B. TITLE OF THE APP B

B.1. LEVEL 2 SECTION, APPLY HEADING 2

For the captions in Appendices, you must use copy-paste from the figures

and tables below.

Figure B.7. First figure in appendix B.

Table 3. First Table in Appendix B.

B.2. FOR THE REFERENCES:

References must be entered in “REFERENCES” section before they are

cited. The style is “references”. The template will number citations consecutively

within brackets . Refer simply to the reference number, as in —do not use “Ref. ” or

“reference ” except at the beginning of a sentence: “Reference was the first ...”

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 Unless there are six authors or more give all authors’ names; do not use “et

al.”. Papers that have not been published, even if they have been submitted for

publication, should be cited as “unpublished” . Papers that have been accepted for

publication should be cited as “in press” . Capitalize only the first word in a paper

title, except for proper nouns and element symbols.

B.2.1. To Cite a New Reference

Insert Cross-reference  select: Reference Type= numbered item 

select: Insert reference to: Paragraph number  in “For which numbered item”, scroll

to your reference  select your reference  click Insert

B.2.2. Equations in Appendix B

For the equations in Appendix, the best practice is to Copy-Paste-Edit the

equation below then update it by selection the number and hitting F9 on your

Keyboard, then Edit the equation.

A=π r 2 (B.2)

17
 REFERENCES

Al-Karaki, G.N., 2011. Utilization of Treated Wastewater for Green Forage Production in a
Hydroponic System.
[1] Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 23, 80-94.
Al-Karaki GN and Al-Hashimi M, 2012. Green fodder production and water use efficiency of some
forage crops
[2] under hydroponic condition. Intern. Schol. Res. Network
Annison, G. 1993. The role of wheat non-starch polysaccharides in broiler nutrition. Aust. J. Agric. Sci.
44:405–
[3] 422.
Abd Rahim M.A. Saidi, Jamal Abo Omar, 2015. The biological and economic feasibility of feeding
barley green
[4] fodder to lactating awassi ewes. Open Journal of Animal Sciences (5) 99-105.
G. N. Al-Karaki and N. Al-Momani, “Evaluation of some
barley cultivars for green fodder production and water use
ISRN Agronomy 5
efficiency under hydroponic conditions,” Jordan Journal of
[5] Agricultural Sciences. In press.
G. N. Al-Karaki, “Utilization of treated wastewater for green
forage production in a hydroponic system,” Emirates Journal
[6] of Food and Agriculture, vol. 23, pp. 80–94, 2011.

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