The use of drones and sensor-based irrigation systems can reduce water consumption in the production of tomato and table grapes, while improving productivity and fruit quality, according to a study conducted by Italian researchers and published in the journal Plants, People, Planet.
The researchers compared two plots of tomato and table grapes. One was managed using traditional agricultural methods, while the other used an advanced sensor system to support irrigation management.
The precision agriculture strategy enabled saving up to 15% of the water required to produce the crops in the traditionally managed plot. At the same time, improvements in yield and fruit quality were recorded.
According to the researchers, the combination of drones and sensors allows closer monitoring of the plants’ status and to adjust irrigation to the plants’ needs. The technology could play a crucial role in regions prone to drought periods and high temperatures, helping farmers respond to the growing water scarcity.
“Precision agriculture technologies demonstrate that saving water and improving crop quality can go hand in hand. By using sensors to protect the plants from stress caused by weather conditions, we can make their growth more stable. Moreover, with non-destructive technologies, farmers can test fruit quality directly in the field, without damaging or destroying the crop, avoiding lengthy laboratory analyses,” says Giuseppe Ferrara, professor at the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the corresponding author of the study.
The researchers also evaluated the use of non-destructive technologies to analyze fruit quality directly in the field. This approach helps avoid the collection and destruction of samples and reduces the need for lengthy laboratory analyses.
“Ultimately, this smart approach can help ensure our food supply in the face of climate change, while simultaneously ensuring that consumers have access to higher-quality products,” adds the researcher.
The results point to the potential of precision agriculture in reducing water consumption and in adapting agricultural production to climate change. The study, however, focused on tomato and table grapes, so the effectiveness of these technologies for other crops and conditions should be evaluated individually.
