Hydroponics, a soilless cultivation method, relies on precise nutrient management to optimize plant growth. This study provides a systematic scoping review of automated hydroponic nutrient dosing systems, focusing on potential of hydrogen (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) dosing frameworks. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for systematic scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 3222 studies were retrieved and screened, with 89 meeting inclusion criteria for analysis. The review aimed to identify current research trends, dosing frameworks, critical variables, and research gaps. Results reveal a steady rise in publications from 2015 (n = 4) to 2022 (n = 18). Feedback loop frameworks and predictive analytics are equally represented (n = 45 each). Critical variables include pH (n = 70), EC (n = 36), total dissolved solids (TDS) (n = 27), nutrient solution volume (NSV) (n = 42), and nutrient solution temperature (NST) (n = 28). The study highlights the need for robust frameworks incorporating advanced dosing frameworks and simultaneous dosing strategies to enhance dosing speed, accuracy, and robustness. A novel framework is proposed to address these gaps by integrating predictive analytics using multiple regression models. This framework aims to improve the dosing speed, accuracy, and robustness of automated hydroponic nutrient dosing systems. The findings underscore the importance of further research into adaptive frameworks to meet the growing demand for precision hydroponic systems.

The affordability of packaging materials and proper storage facilities to preserve the quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) has become a problematic issue for small-scale farmers in Malaysia, who have limited resources and rely on their crops for income. This study compares the post-harvest quality preservation of lettuce using plastic bags and newspapers as cost-effective packaging materials under storage durations of 0, 3, 6, 12, and 15 days. The lettuce quality parameters measured were chlorophyll, sucrose, weight loss, and overall visual quality (OVQ). The results showed newspapers had the highest mean weight loss (7.91 g), while plastic had the lowest one (5.81 g). However, chlorophyll content did not significantly differ between the two packaging types. Lettuce packaged in plastic bags had a significantly lower total soluble solids (TSS) content mean value (2.89%) compared to newspaper (3.89%). In addition, the plastic bag materials gave a better OVQ than that of the newspaper. Generally, the use of plastic bags as a packaging option for small-scale lettuce farmers in Malaysia is affordable and readily available.

The mushroom industry in Malaysia is experiencing significant growth due to its high return value and low production costs. The Malaysian government has implemented initiatives to encourage entrepreneurial activities. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives in influencing entrepreneurial intention remains to be determined. This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry and the moderating effect of government support, drawing insights from the interplay between entrepreneurial self-efficacy, intention, and external support mechanisms. Numerous factors influence entrepreneurship intentions in the mushroom industry. Entrepreneurial self-efficacy plays a crucial role in shaping entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors, and individuals with high self-efficacy are more likely to perceive themselves as capable of successfully starting and running a new business. Government support can provide funding, tax advantages, subsidies, skills development, and advice services and create enabling environments for entrepreneurial efforts. The literature on government support and its impact on entrepreneurship intention reveals gaps that need further exploration. The theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how entrepreneurship education influences self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions. This study examines the capacity of government assistance to impact entrepreneurial intention in the Malaysian mushroom business, providing vital knowledge on how to promote a more robust environment for sustainable mushroom production. Additionally, this research aims to bridge the gap by investigating how government support moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention in the Malaysian mushroom industry, offering valuable conceptual insights to policymakers for fostering a sustainable mushroom production sector.

Precision hydroponics requires precise and accurate Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Potential of Hydrogen (pH) measurements. The analog signals from the EC and pH sensor are converted to voltage and then into either EC or pH readings depending on the type of the sensor used. This paper presents a comparative study of six data processing methods to increase the precision and accuracy of EC and pH sensor measurements. The data processing includes six data processing methods that comprise direct (Methods 1 and 2) and selective methods (Methods 3, 4, 5, and 6). The precision of each data processing method was measured by comparing the standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variance (CV). The accuracy of the methods was calculated using Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE). Outliers were identified through the interquartile range (IQR). The results show that Method 1 (SD = 4.935 mV; CV = 7.16; MAE = 3.090 mV; RMSE = 5.290 mV) is the unreliable method, whereas Method 5 (SD = 0.777 mV; CV = 1.15; MAE = 0.610 mV; RMSE = 0.866 mV) and Method 6 (SD = 0.669 mV; CV = 0.99; MAE = 0.640 mV; RMSE = 0.883 mV) demonstrate high precision and accurate measurements. This study offers reliable data processing methods in taking EC and pH measurements. Future research and hydroponics practitioners should use our suggested data processing methods.