Pedro Jose L. De Castro
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Pedro Jose L. De Castro has a total of 4 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Adrian Rudolf Villafuerte
Microchip Technology, Philippines
1 shared publication - Antonette Villapando Chua
Dept. of Electronics Engineering, Batangas State University, The National Engineering University, Batangas City, Philippines
1 shared publication - Erwin P. Ellazar
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Philippines
1 shared publication - Ronaldo C. Maaño
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Philippines
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 14 August 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Preprints.org
Precision Microclimate Control Using IoT for Enhanced Production of Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom)
Environmental factors are essential to effective mushroom cultivation, as controlled moisture, humidity, and temperature directly affect yield, quality, and growth. This study introduces the design and development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based electronic management system for optimizing mushroom farming environments through real-time monitoring and automated control. The system continuously monitors temperature, soil moisture, and humidity, sending sensor data to the ThingSpeak platform to generate a visual representation for remote access and analysis, ensuring stable and optimal conditions. Automated sprinklers efficiently maintain humidity and moisture levels, minimizing water loss and distributing moisture evenly across the growing chamber. A prototype was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional mushroom production systems, which are often hindered by changing environmental conditions. Over a two-week evaluation, the controlled environment produced a significantly higher yield and cap diameter (mean = 352.5g and 17-20cm) compared to the non-controlled setup (136g and 7-14cm), with growth occurring 64% earlier. The post-evaluation survey indicated a weighted mean rating of 4.8 for functionality and 4.6 for effectiveness, with most aspects rated as "Very Highly Functional" and "Very Highly Effective". The results demonstrate that controlling uniform microclimate parameters leads to improved mushroom yield, quality, and labor reduction, making commercial mushroom cultivation more sustainable and profitable.
- 14 August 2025
- Published by MDPI AG in Preprints.org
Open AccessPrecision Microclimate Control Using IoT for Enhanced Production of Pleurotus ostreatus (Oyster Mushroom)
Environmental factors are essential to effective mushroom cultivation, as controlled moisture, humidity, and temperature directly affect yield, quality, and growth. This study introduces the design and development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based electronic management system for optimizing mushroom farming environments through real-time monitoring and automated control. The system continuously monitors temperature, soil moisture, and humidity, sending sensor data to the ThingSpeak platform to generate a visual representation for remote access and analysis, ensuring stable and optimal conditions. Automated sprinklers efficiently maintain humidity and moisture levels, minimizing water loss and distributing moisture evenly across the growing chamber. A prototype was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional mushroom production systems, which are often hindered by changing environmental conditions. Over a two-week evaluation, the controlled environment produced a significantly higher yield and cap diameter (mean = 352.5g and 17-20cm) compared to the non-controlled setup (136g and 7-14cm), with growth occurring 64% earlier. The post-evaluation survey indicated a weighted mean rating of 4.8 for functionality and 4.6 for effectiveness, with most aspects rated as "Very Highly Functional" and "Very Highly Effective". The results demonstrate that controlling uniform microclimate parameters leads to improved mushroom yield, quality, and labor reduction, making commercial mushroom cultivation more sustainable and profitable.