Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Agriculture

Cheap, sensor-based agriculture could slash water use by up to 70%

We could definitely use something like this with all the droughts around.

Mihai Andrei by Mihai Andrei
November 24, 2022
in Agriculture, Future

For all the progress our society has made, we’re still nothing without agriculture. But agriculture has also changed a lot: increasingly, an array of sensors equipped with relatively simple hardware and smart software are being used to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable — and given that agriculture is one of the main contributors to habitat destruction and climate change, this would definitely come in handy.

Sensors can direct irrigation mechanisms, fertilizers, or machinery. Image via Unsplash.

The Internet of (Agricultural) Things

Globally 70% of the freshwater withdrawals are used for agriculture. All agricultural products require water (though some, like meat, require much more). For as long as humans have worked the land, water management has been a crucial part of agriculture — which is very concerning given because we’re seeing widespread drought caused by climate change and our irresponsible use of water.

Recurrent droughts in California and other parts of the US, extreme heat in Europe, scorching heatwaves in places like the Middle East and North Africa have made it clear that droughts are part of the new normal, and adapting is not easy.

But unexpected help may come from the internet. The internet you’re using to read this now can be used for a number of different things, including connecting sensors and other objects.

The so-called Internet of Things (IoT) means that you no longer need to go out into a field to inspect it and take samples for analysis — you can leave the sensors in place and they communicate using wireless protocols. These technologies have advanced tremendously in recent years, becoming not only more precise and robust, but also cheaper — a key demand for agriculture.

Image via Unsplash.

It works like this: you plant a bunch of sensors to measure things like soil moisture, fertilizer content, and other parameters of interest. You connect the irrigation systems to the sensors and only irrigate when it’s necessary, and where it’s necessary. You can use the same approach for estimating soil nutrient levels and identifying pests, making the entire process as efficient as possible.

The results are, with today’s technology, striking: studies show that between 20% to 72% of water usage can be reduced with this approach, saving money and valuable environmental resources. There’s no doubt that the method has a lot of potential and can be used in most places in the world — although it’s noteworthy that some of the bread baskets of the world still lack access to reliable, high-speed internet.

There are a few other issues as well, such as the interplay between sensors, antennas, and mud. Sensors that measure things can become oxidated or damaged with ease, which means they need to be accurate as well as durable. They also have to be able to communicate over long distances, even when covered by soil.

In order to be able to withstand the heavy machinery that usually runs on farms, sensors and antennas must be buried fairly deep, but that makes it harder to transmit the signal. Researchers have developed new models of antennas that make transmission of data easier and are able to broadcast information to irrigation systems up to 650 feet (200 meters) away

These robust systems also adapt to changing weather conditions and can provide data on things like temperature or rainfall, and even make decisions based on them. The next step is to integrate remote satellite data with agricultural farms and take advantage of the abundance of free data from the eye in the sky.

However, two big problems remain: cost and internet access. In areas where salaries or water costs are very low, it may actually be cheaper to have people do the extra work than have sensors and sensor-based irrigation and fertilization. Also, while digital technologies are becoming more available to farmers worldwide, there are still vast areas where connectivity remains an issue, and in these cases, technology risks fueling more inequality.

Ultimately, though, this type of technology is what we probably need if we want to feed over 8 billion people while facing the effects of climate change. The IoT revolution can make agriculture more efficient, and with resources like water being scarcer than ever, we really need it to work.

Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Related posts:
  1. New electricity-based method to produce hydrogen could slash 1% of the world’s CO2 emissions
  2. A cheap e-ink-printed multitouch sensor you can cut into any shape with only scissors
  3. When science meets art: a sensor-based mirror made of fur
  4. Farms could slash pesticide use without losing any yield or money, new study finds
  5. When people are offered more plant-based foods, they eat more plant-based food, study shows
Tags: agricultureinternet of thingsIoTwater management

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW