New research in Plants, People, Planet demonstrates how precision agricultural techniques involving drones and sensor-based irrigation can save water required to produce tomatoes and grapes, while also improving the quality of these crops.
Investigators in Italy compared 2 plots of tomatoes and table grapes: the first was managed using traditional farming methods, and the second was managed with an advanced sensor system for irrigation. The latter precision agricultural strategy saved up to 15% of the water needed to produce tomatoes and table grapes and improved yield and fruit quality.
With many regions of the world experiencing drought and extreme heat, the research shows how precision agriculture can help farmers better adapt to climate change and water shortages.
"Precision farming technologies prove that saving water and improving crop quality can go hand in hand. By using sensors to shield plants from weather stress, we made their growth more stable. Moreover, with non-destructive technologies, farmers can also test fruit quality right in the field without damaging or destroying the crop, skipping slow laboratory analyses," said corresponding author Giuseppe Ferrara, PhD, a professor at the University of Bari Aldo Moro. "Ultimately, this overall smart approach can help secure our food supply against climate change while ensuring consumers get higher quality produce."
URL upon publication: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.70253
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