Agriculture in the Philippines faces challenges from unpredictable weather, which hampers seed germination and crop establishment. This study, “Design and Implementation of a Controlled Environment Chamber to Accelerate Germination of Slow-Germinating Lettuce Seeds Using Trade-Off Analysis in Villegas Organiks and Hobby Farm,” aimed to develop a germination chamber that maintains optimal conditions for lettuce seed growth. Key environmental parameters, temperature, humidity, light intensity, oxygen, and water level, were monitored and controlled. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and environmental monitoring at Villegas Organiks and Hobby Farm in Malvar, Batangas. Findings revealed that the farm’s current germination setup, reliant on ambient conditions, led to inconsistent results, extending germination to 25 days versus the optimal 7–10 days. Multiple chamber designs were evaluated using trade-off analysis methods, including Standard Weighted Sum, Maximin and Minimax Criteria, Imprecise Designer Ranking Table, and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Design 2 was selected with a performance score of 4.21 based on cost, usability, safety, and material availability. The final prototype featured an Arduino-based control system with DHT22 temperature-humidity sensors, BH1750 light sensor, red LED lighting, humidifier, and ventilation system. The chamber maintained optimal conditions (18°C–22°C, 50%–70% RH, 12–16 µmol/m²/s), achieving an 89.52% germination rate by Day 9, compared to 30–40% using traditional methods. Usability evaluation received a “Very Satisfactory” mean rating of 4.38. The study demonstrates that the chamber accelerates lettuce germination and offers a sustainable solution for smallholder farms. Expansion to other crops, integration of data logging/IoT, and enhanced interface accessibility are recommended to further support farm productivity and resilience.

Keywords

Controlled environment chamber, lettuce germination, trade-off analysis, smallholder farms, agricultural innovation