The MSU plant growth center has

• 32 sq foot hot water solar collector built and installed at the horticulture farm
• PEX-AL tubing heating loop installed in a 5' by 43' raised garden bed located in high tunnel #1
• Insulated 50 gallon stock tank to serve as a hot water reservoir
• Two small 12VDC submersible pumps that can handle 160F water and sized to circulate 2+ gpm through the system

The control system for plant growth center is mainly designed to increase the growing season of crops. In the cold weather when crops do not grow or get dried, the control system would help maintain the temperature of the soil so that the crops don�t dry and wither easily. A collector is used to deliver and collect heat using a PEX-AL-PEX. This collector pump activates automatically during the daylight hours and provides the desired temperature to the soil for plant growth. Depending on the temperature and daylight the bed heating loop is also activated. The system will also be able to store heat in order to be able to work all night without anyone having to check the temperature at regular intervals. The system will be able to provide large amount of solar heated water until at least November. The storage tank will be able to store heat and help in handling many cold winter days. The heat exchanger immersed in the storage tank also has the capability to store heat and prevents performance loss. Thus the control system will prove to be beneficial for the farmers especially whose crops do not grow much due to the cold climatic conditions. This system being cost effective and efficient will be easily affordable too.