The experiment was held at the Arid land Agricultural graduate studies and Research Institute - Ain Shams University. A soil moisture sensor is designed and used for measuring and controlling soil moisture content in plant media.  The device has been programmed and connected to three water-lifting pumps to operate them according to each treatment.         A vertical system has been constructed using 18 columns of white square styrofoam pots filled with perlite (In-organic substrate). Three soil moisture content treatments were selected as T1 = 60 %, T2= 80%, and T3 = 100% which were controlled by the sensors.  Solution tank filled with dissolved nutrient elements was used for supplying required water.       Two types of lettuce (green and red) lettuce seedlings were planted in the perlite substrate and irrigated by drip irrigation system. The system was closed and was based on smart automatic drip irrigation system,        Results revealed that, 556.5 liters of water was consumed under condition of T1 = 60 %, while 697.5 liters and 908.5 were consumed under condition of T2= 80 %, and T3 = 100% respectively After 47 days the Red lettuce yield (weight, number of leaves, and also weight of dry lettuce) was higher than green lettuce for all treatments. Yields of lettuce per system unit (4.5 m2) 16 kg/m2 and water use efficiency 26kg /m3 (Barbosa et al 2015) conventional production yielded 3.9 ±  0.21 kg/m2/y of lettuce produce, with water. Hydroponics offered 11±1.7 times higher yields but required 82±11 times more energy compared to conventionally produced lettuce.

The experiment was carried out at the experimental site of Arid Land Agricultural graduate studies and Research Institute (ALARI), Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Qalyobia Governorate during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Fresh bare root strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) transplants cv. Festival were used in this experiment.The aim of the study was to determine the best irrigation scheduling and better strawberry density to get the best production and quality of strawberry fruits grown in A-shape NFT system. Five irrigation schedules (24 hours (control), ¼ / ½ hour (Sched 1), ¼  / 1 hour (Sched 2), ¼  / 2 hours (Sched 3), ¼  / 3 hours (Sched 4) and two plant density per square meter (21 plants / m2 “PD-1”,32 plants / m2 “PD-2”) and the combinations among them were tested in this experiment. The EC of the nutrient solution was adjusted at the range of 2.0 – 2.5 m.mhos-2 and pH was maintained at the range of 5.5-6.0 throughout the experimental time. The measurements recorded were as follows: number of leaves, % of fruit set, early and total yield and mean fruit weight. Quality measurements included total soluble solids (TSS) (the percentage of TSS was determined by using hand refractometer), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and fruit acidity. Results indicated that irrigating plants for 15 min every ½ hour increased productivity (mean fruit weight, early yield and total yield) and quality (TSS) but reduced vitamin C and fruit acidity of strawberry. While the irrigating plants every 1 hour reduced number of leaves, set %, early & total yield, mean fruit weight, TSS.