Precision farming with smart sensors: Current state, challenges and future outlook

Abstract

The agricultural sector, a vital industry for human survival and a primary source of food and raw materials, faces increasing pressure due to global population growth and environmental strains. Productivity, efficiency, and sustainability constraints are preventing traditional farming methods from adequately meeting the growing demand for food. Precision farming has emerged as a transformative paradigm to address these issues. It integrates advanced technologies to improve decision making, optimize yield, and conserve resources. This approach leverages technologies such as wireless sensor networks, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing to provide effective and cost-efficient agricultural services. Smart sensor technologies are foundational to precision farming. They offer crucial information regarding soil conditions, plant growth, and environmental factors in real time. This review explores the status, challenges, and prospects of smart sensor technologies in precision farming. The integration of smart sensors with the IoT and AI has significantly transformed how agricultural data is collected, analyzed, and utilized to optimize yield, conserve resources, and enhance overall farm efficiency. The review delves into various types of smart sensors used, their applications, and emerging technologies that promise to further innovate data acquisition and decision making in agriculture. Despite progress, challenges persist. They include sensor calibration, data privacy, interoperability, and adoption barriers. To fully realize the potential of smart sensors in ensuring global food security and promoting sustainable farming, the challenges need to be addressed.