The Growing Prominence Of Iot In Agriculture

Farmers can now collect meaningful data that can be used to improve efficiency— thanks to internet of things applications.

FREMONT, CA: Sensors in agricultural operations are a thing of the past. The disadvantage of this traditional approach to sensor technology was that it did not provide real-time data. These sensors were used to store data in an attached memory, which was later used.

Modern sensors are now available for use in agriculture due to the introduction of industrial internet of things (IoT). These sensors communicate with the cloud via cellular or satellite connectivity. This system enables farmers to collect real-time data and make informed decisions.

Farmers have benefited from the application of IoT, including monitoring water levels in tanks. This is all accomplished in real-time, which increases the efficiency of the irrigation process. The advancement of IoT has enabled the tracking of seed growth. Farmers can now monitor resource consumption and the time required for a seed to mature.

Agriculture's adoption of IoT was akin to a second wave of the Green Revolution. Farmers have benefited from the IoT in two ways. They can now complete the same number of tasks in less time and also increase crop yields thanks to accurate data collected via IoT.

Smart farming enabled by IoT also helps the environment. It can aid farmers in creating more efficient use of water and optimizing inputs and treatments.

The following are some applications of IoT-enabled smart farming that are transforming the agriculture sector:

Smart Greenhouses: Greenhouse farming aims to increase the yields of vegetables, crops, and fruits, among other things. Manual intervention or a proportional control mechanism regulates environmental factors in greenhouses. On the other hand, manual intervention results in production losses, energy losses, and labor costs. This renders the greenhouse concept ineffective. Thus, intelligent greenhouses are a preferable option. With the help of IoT, a smart greenhouse can be created. These intelligent greenhouses monitor and control the climate autonomously, requiring no human intervention.

A smart greenhouse employs a variety of sensors to monitor environmental factors. Remote access is enabled through IoT to connect the system to a cloud. This prevents the requirement for continuous manual monitoring. The cloud server is in charge of data processing and executes control action.

The IoT sensors provide critical information on temperature, humidity, pressure, and light levels inside the greenhouse. These sensors control everything from lighting and window opening to temperature control and cooling via a WiFi signal.

Monitor Climate Conditions: Climate has a significant impact on crop productivity. Different crops require distinct climate conditions to thrive, and even a passing familiarity with climate significantly reduces the quantity and quality of crop yield. Farmers can now monitor weather conditions in real-time, thanks to IoT technology.  The sensors installed in agricultural fields collect data from the environment, which farmers select crops that thrive in specific climatic circumstances.