Optimizing water usage through smart agriculture
Water is an extremely valuable resource for agriculture, yet its availability is increasingly challenged worldwide. Conserving water is essential to adapt agriculture to current contexts and future challenges. Smart agriculture enables farmers to transform their irrigation systems into intelligent and autonomous setups, making them more efficient.
Sensors embedded in the soil continuously measure the moisture percentage at various depths. This data is collected and transmitted to a platform that calculates the actual water needs of the crops, taking into account factors such as weather conditions, upcoming precipitation, soil type, and crop type. Irrigation is triggered only when necessary and stops automatically to prevent excessive watering and resource waste. This system has the added advantage of reducing pumping costs, preserving groundwater, and enhancing yield for water-sensitive crops like arboriculture and market gardening.
By cross-referencing data collected by sensors with weather forecasts, it is possible to anticipate drought episodes and adjust the irrigation plan several days in advance.
Reducing fertilizers and pesticides by optimizing harvests
The use of fertilizers and phytosanitary products helps farmers optimize crop yields by improving harvests and eliminating diseases and pests. However, excessive use has negative effects: it pollutes soils and waters, makes pests more resistant, and causes an alarming reduction in biodiversity. Smart agriculture, supported by IoT, allows for a reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides by adapting them to the actual needs of the crops.
In practice, probes placed in the soil measure levels of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, pH, and soil salinity. This data enables precise adjustments to the necessary inputs, preventing the administration of standard doses.
Additionally, sensors and cameras placed on crops detect signs of deficiencies or stress in the harvests. These detection systems identify the presence of diseases or pest infestations in specific areas: rather than treating the entire crop, only the affected area is treated with reduced doses. This system saves on phytosanitary treatments and reduces the exposure of crops, soils, and waters to chemicals.
La smart agriculture au service des économies d’énergie Smart agriculture for energy savings
As previously mentioned, agriculture is a highly energy-intensive sector, whether for water pumping, ventilation of greenhouses and livestock farms, heating, or fuel for agricultural machinery. The Internet of Things helps streamline energy consumption and adapt it to real needs. The direct result is reduced energy costs and a decrease in farmers’ carbon footprint.
Sensors placed on equipment allow for real-time measurement of their consumption. The collected data is analyzed to identify possible overconsumption or unnecessary operational periods (such as lighting or ventilation turned on in an empty room, for example).
Within a greenhouse or livestock building, IoT enables the activation or deactivation of equipment based on air temperature, humidity levels, or the presence of animals. In summer, for example, ventilation is triggered only above a specific temperature, while lighting is activated based on the room’s luminosity. Ultimately, smart agriculture provides greater comfort for crops and livestock.
Energy (and financial) savings are also made on machinery and tractors. GPS trackers help better manage routes and limit empty trips for optimized journeys.
Also read: IoT for environmental protection
Real-time resource management enabled by IoT
IoT also offers a major advantage: it centralizes data for more precise resource management. Farmers can monitor the condition of their plots, consumption, stocks, and yields in real-time via a single dashboard.
This information can be shared among farmers to exchange best practices and assist others in dealing with drought episodes or the emergence of diseases in harvests or livestock. This is an effective way to pool resources and anticipate harmful phenomena for a more collaborative and resilient agriculture.
Lastly, IoT simplifies the traceability of production, which is essential for justifying organic certification, obtaining specific quality labels, or local/circuit-short marketing. Interventions are automatically recorded to ensure regulatory compliance while reducing administrative tasks.
Objenious, your partner in implementing your IoT projects
Are you developing solutions related to Smart Agriculture? Objenious, Bouygues Telecom’s brand dedicated to IoT, supports you in your projects and offers customized assistance. Choose the IoT network that meets your business and geographic needs. Need advice? Feel free to contact us directly.