Are there any irrigation automation systems that handle precision dosing in recirculating hydroponic systems?

Yes. There are irrigation and fertigation automation systems that can do precision dosing in recirculating hydroponic systems, though they’re often marketed under labels like fertigation control, nutrient dosing, or climate/water management rather than “hydroponic precision dosing.”

What these systems typically control

In a recirculating hydroponic setup, good automation can manage:

• pH dosing — acid/base injection to maintain target pH
• EC / nutrient concentration dosing — fertilizer A/B injection or concentrated stock dosing
• Water level / top-off dosing
• Tank recirculation and mixing
• Drain, refill, and batch recipes
• Sensor feedback loops using pH, EC, temperature, flow, and sometimes dissolved oxygen

Examples of relevant system types

1. Commercial fertigation controllers

   • Common in greenhouses
   • Can dose multiple stock solutions with proportional control
   • Often integrate pH and EC sensors
   • Best for larger or more professional recirculating systems

2. Hydroponic dosing controllers

   • Designed specifically for hydroponics or CEA
   • Usually support pH and nutrient correction
   • Some can log data, trigger alarms, and automate refill cycles

3. PLC/industrial automation systems

   • Used for custom, high-precision installations
   • Can handle complex recipes, multi-tank nutrient management, and sensor-driven dosing
   • More expensive and usually requires engineering/setup

4. Smart dosing pumps with controllers

   • Peristaltic or diaphragm pumps tied to feedback sensors
   • Good for smaller recirculating systems or modular expansions

Important caveat

For recirculating hydroponics, precision dosing is trickier than in drain-to-waste systems because:

• nutrient uptake changes over time
• evaporation/transpiration alters concentration
• pH drifts dynamically
• mixed reservoirs can stratify without good circulation
• sensor calibration becomes critical

So the best systems are those with:

• closed-loop sensor feedback
• accurate peristaltic dosing pumps
• good mixing/recirculation
• calibration and maintenance workflows
• recipe-based control

If you want, I can also give you:

• a list of specific brands/models
• options by budget or scale
• a comparison of off-the-shelf vs DIY Arduino/PLC setups