Precise and Continuous Biomass Measurement for Plant Growth Using a Low-Cost Sensor Setup

Continuous and accurate biomass measurement is a critical enabler for control, decision making, and optimization in modern plant production systems. It supports the development of plant growth models for advanced control strategies like model predictive control, and enables responsive, data-driven, and plant state-dependent cultivation. Traditional biomass measurement methods, such as destructive sampling, are time-consuming and unsuitable for high-frequency monitoring. In contrast, image-based estimation using computer vision and deep learning requires frequent retraining and is sensitive to changes in lighting or plant morphology. This work introduces a low-cost, load-cell-based biomass monitoring system tailored for vertical farming applications. The system operates at the level of individual growing trays, offering a valuable middle ground between impractical plant-level sensing and overly coarse rack-level measurements. Tray-level data allow localized control actions, such as adjusting light spectrum and intensity per tray, thereby enhancing the utility of controllable LED systems. This granularity supports layer-specific optimization and anomaly detection, which are not feasible with rack-level feedback. The biomass sensor is easily scalable and can be retrofitted, addressing common challenges such as mechanical noise and thermal drift. It offers a practical and robust solution for biomass monitoring in dynamic, growing environments, enabling finer control and smarter decision making in both commercial and research-oriented vertical farming systems. The developed sensor was tested and validated against manual harvest data, demonstrating high agreement with actual plant biomass and confirming its suitability for integration into vertical farming systems.