Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture

Ahmet Suslu; Recep Kulcu; Can Ertekin

doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1874303

EN TR

Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture

Abstract

Ensuring traceability and comparability of process conditions in compost tea production remains a significant engineering challenge in practical applications. Although many studies in the literature primarily focus on the biological and agronomic effects of compost tea, the dynamic behavior of the production process and the time-dependent evolution of key process parameters are often addressed in a limited manner. Rather than aiming to optimize a specific compost tea recipe, this study adopts a process-oriented perspective and proposes the development of a traceable, repeatable, and comparable production infrastructure capable of distinguishing process behaviors under different operating regimes. In this context, a system architecture integrating a PLC-based control layer with a PC-based supervisory monitoring and data acquisition platform was designed and experimentally implemented. Key process parameters, including dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature, were continuously monitored and recorded in a time-stamped manner throughout the production process. The system was evaluated under three experimental scenarios characterized by different aeration and recirculation strategies, while nutrient dosing was kept constant. Time-series analyses of DO, pH, EC, and temperature demonstrated that the proposed PLC–PC based monitoring infrastructure can clearly resolve scenario-dependent process behaviors. The observed differences among experimental scenarios indicate that variations in process dynamics are primarily attributable to operational and control strategies rather than changes in nutrient input. Overall, this study presents an engineering-based framework for process-oriented monitoring of compost tea production, providing a robust data-driven basis for future optimization, advanced control, and scale-up studies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Isparta University of Applied Sciences

Project Number

2020-BTAP1-0076

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human participants or animals. Therefore, ethical approval and informed consent were not required.

Thanks

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Isparta University of Applied Sciences under Project No. 2020-BTAP1-0076.

Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture

Abstract

Ensuring traceability and comparability of process conditions in compost tea production remains a significant engineering challenge in practical applications. Although many studies in the literature primarily focus on the biological and agronomic effects of compost tea, the dynamic behavior of the production process and the time-dependent evolution of key process parameters are often addressed in a limited manner. Rather than aiming to optimize a specific compost tea recipe, this study adopts a process-oriented perspective and proposes the development of a traceable, repeatable, and comparable production infrastructure capable of distinguishing process behaviors under different operating regimes. In this context, a system architecture integrating a PLC-based control layer with a PC-based supervisory monitoring and data acquisition platform was designed and experimentally implemented. Key process parameters, including dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature, were continuously monitored and recorded in a time-stamped manner throughout the production process. The system was evaluated under three experimental scenarios characterized by different aeration and recirculation strategies, while nutrient dosing was kept constant. Time-series analyses of DO, pH, EC, and temperature demonstrated that the proposed PLC–PC based monitoring infrastructure can clearly resolve scenario-dependent process behaviors. The observed differences among experimental scenarios indicate that variations in process dynamics are primarily attributable to operational and control strategies rather than changes in nutrient input. Overall, this study presents an engineering-based framework for process-oriented monitoring of compost tea production, providing a robust data-driven basis for future optimization, advanced control, and scale-up studies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Project Number

2020-BTAP1-0076

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, insan katılımcılar veya hayvanlar üzerinde herhangi bir deney içermemektedir. Bu nedenle etik kurul onayı ve bilgilendirilmiş onam gerekmemektedir.

Thanks

Bu çalışma, Isparta Uygulamalı Bilimler Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi tarafından 2020-BTAP1-0076 numaralı proje kapsamında desteklenmiştir.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Agricultural Machine Systems

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Ahmet Suslu ^*
0000-0003-4016-589X
Türkiye

Recep Kulcu
0000-0002-7185-6514
Türkiye

Can Ertekin
0000-0003-2987-2438
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 26, 2026

Submission Date

January 30, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 39

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1874303

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA65CJ22FR

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Suslu, A., Kulcu, R., & Ertekin, C. (2026). Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, 39. https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1874303

AMA

1.Suslu A, Kulcu R, Ertekin C. Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1874303

Chicago

Suslu, Ahmet, Recep Kulcu, and Can Ertekin. 2026. “Process Monitoring and Control of Compost Tea Production Using a PLC–PC Based Architecture”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39 (September). https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1874303.

EndNote

Suslu A, Kulcu R, Ertekin C (September 1, 2026) Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39

IEEE

[1]A. Suslu, R. Kulcu, and C. Ertekin, “Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture”, Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.29136/mediterranean.1874303.

ISNAD

Suslu, Ahmet - Kulcu, Recep - Ertekin, Can. “Process Monitoring and Control of Compost Tea Production Using a PLC–PC Based Architecture”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences 39 (September 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.29136/mediterranean.1874303.

JAMA

1.Suslu A, Kulcu R, Ertekin C. Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1874303.

MLA

Suslu, Ahmet, et al. “Process Monitoring and Control of Compost Tea Production Using a PLC–PC Based Architecture”. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences, vol. 39, Sept. 2026, doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1874303.

Vancouver

1.Ahmet Suslu, Recep Kulcu, Can Ertekin. Process monitoring and control of compost tea production using a PLC–PC based architecture. Mediterranean Agricultural Sciences. 2026 Sep. 1;39. doi:10.29136/mediterranean.1874303

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A plagiarism document is requested from the authors during the first submission; however, the journal reserves the right to check all submissions after peer-reviewing process through appropriate plagiarism checking tools. In accordance with the publication ethics of Mediterr Agric Sci, it is obligatory that plagiarism audits are carried out in order to protect the integrity of all studies that have passed through the Blind Arbitration Assessment Process ". Within this scope, a copy of each study is subject to plagiarism control by a company approved by the editorial board. The material responsible for the audit belongs to the author (s). Plagiarism is controlled by Turnitin and iThenticate software. Each work is analyzed in-depth by means of software, and the matching and citation matches are extracted. The remaining matches are examined and the errors are detected and reported to the editorial board. The editorial board makes the final decision about the study in the light of the plagiarism audit report of each study. Errors in the report may be requested to be corrected by the authors or the work may be returned to the authors.

Bibliography, Submission and Citation Control
Scientific research is based on previous studies. In the studies conducted, reference is made to the previous studies within the framework of certain rules and references. Mistakes made intentionally or unknowingly in scientific studies undermine the reliability of the study and publication. Mediterr Agric Sci sees it as imperative that accurate and complete references and citations are accepted as a result of the evaluation. Within this scope, after each work is accepted, a bibliography, sending and citation control is carried out by the editorial board. The material responsibility for the control carried out belongs to the author (s).
The bibliography, submission and citation control of accepted studies are carried out for the full text in the following steps:
• Bibliography is prepared in accordance with the procedures and principles contained in the Intructions for Authors section of the journal.
• It is checked whether the references in the text of each reference in the bibliography are given according to the procedures and principles, and the wrong ones are corrected.
• References to in-text references are checked. The missing ones are requested from the authors and the wrong ones are corrected. Procedures and principles of references for full text are taken into consideration.

Layout and Typesetting
Mediterr Agric Sci requires the uniformity of the articles, their readability and the standard and uniform print format required by the standards. In this context, plagiarism audit and bibliography editing are completed by the Editorial Board. The responsibility for the checking of the galleyproofs rests with the author (s).

Giving the DOI Number
The Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is a unique access number that allows the identification and access of each published work electronically. A DOI number is mandatory for each study published in Mediterr Agric Sci. Plagiarism audit, bibliography check and print version are prepared by the editorial board after the acceptance stage.