The recent technological trends of smart irrigation systems in smart farming: a review

Abstract

Agriculture is considered one of the most vital industries worldwide responsible for people’s food and the country’s economic development. Nevertheless, this sector is the largest consumer of freshwater. Access to water, soil kind, weather conditions, fertilizers, and illnesses are crucial aspects of agricultural activities. Moreover, water scarcity has become a significant issue for farmers to tackle irrigation activity. While irrigation depends on water availability, building smart irrigation systems that control and manage water use efficiency is highly needed. This paper examines the most modern technologies used in irrigation systems over the last few years. This survey can easily be thorough and beneficial to academics while providing essential recommendations for the new era of irrigation systems technologies. The findings indicate widespread use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence algorithms, while digital twins and blockchain technologies are less common and still in the early stages. To reduce costs and improve security in irrigation systems, it is strongly recommended to adopt digital twin technology. By utilizing digital twins, farmers can enhance operations, optimize resource utilization, and increase efficiency. Furthermore, digital twins contribute to identifying vulnerabilities and implementing robust security measures, ensuring protection against potential threats and disruptions