Advances in Sensor Technology for Sustainable Crop Production

Improving soil health and biodiversity is crucial for achieving regenerative agriculture, and sensors provide the opportunity to measure these factors at unprecedented scales and resolution. Advancements in sensor technology will help optimize complex agricultural systems and promote sustainable crop production.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2023
Publisher: Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited

The agricultural sector is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, leading to a greater focus on improving existing components and practices such as soil health and biodiversity. Sensors offer the potential to measure crop and soil health at unprecedented scales and resolution, which can help improve our understanding and optimization of the complex agricultural systems that comprise our global ecosystem.

Advances in sensor technology for sustainable crop production provide a comprehensive overview of the extensive research on key developments in sensor technology to enhance monitoring and management of crop health, soil health, weeds, and diseases. This collection also examines advancements in proximal and remote sensing techniques, such as spectroscopy and radiometrics, to monitor soil health, as well as how sensor technology can be optimized for more targeted irrigation, site-specific nutrient and weed management.

Improving soil health and biodiversity is crucial for achieving regenerative agriculture, which aims to restore the health of the soil, improve water retention, and enhance ecosystem services. Sensors can play a vital role in monitoring soil health, including soil temperature, moisture content, and nutrient levels, which can help farmers make informed decisions about crop management practices.

One of the key developments in sensor technology for sustainable crop production is the use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Drones can capture high-resolution images of crops and soil, providing farmers with a bird's-eye view of their fields. This data can be used to identify areas of stress or disease, allowing farmers to take targeted interventions to improve crop health.

Another important development is the use of precision agriculture technologies, such as variable rate application of fertilizers and pesticides, which can help reduce waste and improve efficiency. Sensors can be used to monitor soil and crop conditions, allowing farmers to apply the right amount of nutrients and pesticides at the right time, reducing the risk of over- or under-application.

In addition to these developments, there is also growing interest in the use of sensor technology to monitor soil health and biodiversity. Soil sensors can be used to measure soil pH, texture, and nutrient levels, which can help farmers optimize their crop management practices and improve soil health. Biodiversity sensors can be used to monitor the presence of different species of plants and animals in the soil, which can help farmers identify areas of stress or disease and take targeted interventions to improve biodiversity.

Overall, the use of sensor technology for sustainable crop production is a rapidly evolving field with significant potential to improve crop health, soil health, and biodiversity. As sensor technology continues to advance, it will be important for farmers, researchers, and policymakers to work together to optimize the use of these tools and develop new technologies to support sustainable agriculture.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786769770