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Sensor-controlled watering cuts farm water use nearly a third

Soil Health

The soil moisture sensor you might stick in a raised bed is the same basic tech now helping farms grow more food with less irrigation, a preview of tools trickling down to home gardens.

Researchers looked at farms using smart irrigation, systems with soil sensors and weather data that decide exactly when and how much to water crops instead of watering on a fixed schedule. These systems used up to 30% less water and grew 15-20% more crop, because the plants got water precisely when they needed it rather than too much or too little. The catch is getting more farmers access to the technology and the investment to install it.

Key Findings

1

IoT-based smart irrigation reduced agricultural water usage by up to 30%

2

Crop productivity increased 15-20% with sensor-driven irrigation scheduling

3

Real-time data analytics enabled more precise irrigation timing, supporting sustainable farming practices

chevron_right Technical Summary

Smart irrigation systems that use sensors and internet-connected controls to water crops only when needed can cut water use by up to 30% while boosting crop yields 15-20%, offering a practical path toward feeding more people with less water.

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Abstract Preview

Original paper

Optimizing Water Management in Agriculture: The Role of IoT-Powered Smart Irrigation Systems in Addressing Global Food Security and Water Scarcity

Objective: This study aims to explore the impact of IoT-powered smart irrigation systems on optimizing water management in agriculture, with a specific focus on addressing global food security and ...

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Abstract copyright held by the original publisher.

hub This connects to 9 other discoveries — soil-health, climate-adaptation, crop-improvement +1 more 5 related articles

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