Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields (2024)

Combining sensors and imaging of every plant with real-time data analytics improves farm outputs and reduces waste

Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields (1)

As the world’s population grows, farmers will need to produce more and more food. Yet arable acreage cannot keep pace, and the looming food security threat could easily devolve into regional or even global instability. To adapt, large farms are increasingly exploiting precision farming to increase yields, reduce waste, and mitigate the economic and security risks that inevitably accompany agricultural uncertainty.

Traditional farming relies on managing entire fields—making decisions related to planting, harvesting, irrigating, and applying pesticides and fertilizer—based on regional conditions and historical data. Precision farming, by contrast, combines sensors, robots, GPS, mapping tools and data-analytics software to customize the care that plants receive without increasing labor. Stationary or robot-mounted sensors and camera-equipped drones wirelessly send images and data on individual plants—say, information about stem size, leaf shape and the moisture of the soil around a plant—to a computer, which looks for signs of health and stress. Farmers receive the feedback in real time and then deliver water, pesticide or fertilizer in calibrated doses to only the areas that need it. The technology can also help farmers decide when to plant and harvest crops.

As a result, precision farming can improve time management, reduce water and chemical use, and produce healthier crops and higher yields—all of which benefit farmers’ bottom lines and conserve resources while reducing chemical runoff.

Many start-ups are developing new software, sensors, aerial-based data and other tools for precision farming, as are large companies such as Monsanto, John Deere, Bayer, Dow and DuPont. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all support precision farming, and many colleges now offer course work on the topic.

In a related development, seed producers are applying technology to improve plant “phenotyping.” By following individual plants over time and analyzing which ones flourish in different conditions, companies can correlate the plants’ response to their environments with their genomics. That information, in turn, allows the companies to produce seed varieties that will thrive in specific soil and weather conditions. Advanced phenotyping may also help to generate crops with enhanced nutrition.

Growers are not universally embracing precision agriculture for various reasons. The up-front equipment costs—especially the expense of scaling the technology to large row-crop production systems—pose a barrier. Lack of broadband can be an obstacle in some places, although the USDA is trying to ameliorate that problem. Seasoned producers who are less computer-literate may be wary of the technology. And large systems will also be beyond the reach of many small farming operations in developing nations. But less expensive, simpler systems could potentially be applied. Salah Sukkarieh of the University of Sydney, for instance, has demonstrated a streamlined, low-cost monitoring system in Indonesia that relies on solar power and cell phones. For others, though, cost savings down the road may offset the financial concerns. And however reticent some veteran farmers may be to adopt new technology, the next generation of tech-savvy farmers are likely to warm to the approach.

The views, opinions and findings contained in this article are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official views or policies, either expressed or implied, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or the Department of Defense.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)

    Geoffrey Ling, a retired U.S. Army colonel, is an expert in technology development and commercial transition. He is a professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University and the Uniformed Services University ofthe Health Sciences and a partner ofLing and Associates.

      Blake Bextine is program manager at the Biological Technologies Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and was previously a professor of biology and assistant vice president for research and technology transfer at the University of Texas at Tyler.

      Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields (2024)

      FAQs

      Does precision farming increase yield? ›

      Precision farming provides farmers with current, historical and future weather analytics to make informed decisions and increase crop yield. Just as much as the weather is crucial in determining the fate of crop yield, so are irrigation and fertilisation.

      How could farmers increase the yields of their crops? ›

      Consider switching to higher quality seeds and chemical agents for higher yield outcomes. Farmers typically understand their crop yield potential each upcoming season. However, incorporating new strategies like better seeds or chemicals increases the probably of higher quality crops.

      What is the main advantage of precision farming? ›

      Being able to accurately decrease fertilizer, herbicide or seed rates in areas where it will not be economical to utilize is one of the key benefits of precision agriculture. Increasing yields because of applying agronomic principles at a high resolution, while reducing costs increases overall profitability.

      What increases crop yield and improves quality? ›

      By improving the crop variety through cross-breeding and hybridization, the crop yield can be increased. The crop becomes resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. For short-duration crops, the early maturing varieties can fit the crop into multiple cropping varieties.

      Which farming method produces greatest yield? ›

      Intensive farming uses machines, fertilisers, man-power and high-yield crops to maximise the amount of food produced. Farmers growing arable crops often specialise in growing only one crop to maximise their profits.

      What problem does precision farming solve? ›

      Precision agriculture can help growers get more yield with less input, by providing field-specific insights and enabling variable-rate application of nutrients. Instead of using broad regional recommendations for growing a crop variety, the farmer makes decisions informed by actual crop status in their fields.

      What are 3 ways that farmers could increase their yields? ›

      What Are The Ways To Increase Crop Yield?
      • Quality Of Seeds. ...
      • Field Productivity Zoning. ...
      • Monitoring Crops Growth. ...
      • Accurate Weather Prediction. ...
      • Regular Scouting. ...
      • Proper Irrigation. ...
      • Smart Application Of Fertilizers. ...
      • Crop Protection Methods.
      Oct 28, 2020

      Why it is important to increase the crop yield? ›

      Improvements in crop yields have been essential to feed a growing population, while reducing the environmental impact of food production at the same time. By increasing crop yields we can reduce the amount of land we use for agriculture.

      What three changes caused the increase in crop yields? ›

      Technological advances, improved variety of seeds and fertilizers, and better farming practices are contributing to the enhancement of the crop production globally.

      What are two benefits of precision agriculture? ›

      The study shows that farmers consistently using various precision agriculture technologies achieved the following: 4% increase in crop production. 7% increase in fertilizer placement efficiency.

      What are the three major impacts of precision farming? ›

      Precision Agriculture- the Road to Sustainability

      Work only on exactly identified areas to be replanted. Take specific actions to provide the essential and optimum level of inputs (fertilizers and chemicals) Save time and cost and minimize the environmental impact of polluting soil and water.

      What are the important components of precision farming? ›

      The major components of precision farming are; Geographical information system (GIS), Geographical positioning system (GPS), Remote sensing, Variable rate technology, NDVI, Nutrient expert system, SSNM, Bio-intensive farming, Real-time nitrogen management, DRIS approach, Soil testing and yield monitoring.

      What two things increase crop yields? ›

      It's key for farmers to practice crop rotation as part of a strategy to increase crop yield. Planting an alternating crop helps diversify the demands placed on your soil. Crop rotation results in crops that yield more and consistently produce, so be sure to limit corn-over-corn planting in your fields.

      How do you increase yield? ›

      How to Improve Your Yield
      1. Add reagents dropwise if necessary.
      2. Continuously stir thoroughly.
      3. Carefully keep temperature of reaction and liquid reagents at the correct level during addition and reaction.
      4. Monitor your reaction carefully throughout the experiment.

      What does crop yield depend on? ›

      The actual yield that is captured on farm depends on several factors such as the crop's genetic potential, the amount of sunlight, water and nutrients absorbed by the crop, the presence of weeds and pests.

      What are examples of yield farming? ›

      Yield farming allows investors to earn yield by putting coins or tokens in a decentralized application, or dApp. Examples of dApps include crypto wallets, DEXs, decentralized social media and more.

      Is precision farming good? ›

      Advantages of Precision Farming

      Increases ROI, by reducing inputs use and increasing yield amounts and quality. Reduces soil, water, and air pollution by decreasing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Builds up soil biodiversity and supports wildlife outside farms.

      Is precision farming smart farming? ›

      Precision agriculture or Smart Farming means that plants (or animals) get precisely the treatment they need, determined with great accuracy thanks to the latest technology. A range of forms of technology are used to this end, including GPS, sensor technology, ICT and robotics.

      What is the strategy of precision farming? ›

      Precision farming is also known as site-specific crop management. It merges data collection and remote sensing with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to allow farmers to respond to in-field variability with their crop management.

      What does it mean to increase crop yields? ›

      Increased crop yields also means fewer hands are needed on farm, freeing them for industry and commerce. This, in turn, led to the formation and growth of cities, which then translated into an increased demand for foodstuffs or other agricultural products.

      What is the meaning of crop yield? ›

      'Crop yield' is the weight of grain or other economic product, at some agreed standard moisture content, per unit of land area harvested per crop (usually metric tons per hectare1, or here abbreviated to t/ha).

      What are the three factors that influence yield? ›

      • Soil fertility. Soil fertility is one of the three most important factors influencing crop yield. ...
      • Water availability. Water is a critical input for agricultural production, usually supplied via rainfall and irrigation. ...
      • Climate/Weather conditions.
      Jul 22, 2022

      What is the value of precision agriculture? ›

      Report Overview. The global precision farming market size was valued at USD 9,476.3 million in 2022 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.6% from 2023 to 2030.

      What is effect of precision farming on environment? ›

      Precision agriculture benefits to the environment come from more targeted use of inputs that reduce losses from excess applications and from reduction of losses due to nutrient imbalances, weed escapes, insect damage, etc. Other benefits include a reduction in pesticide resistance development.

      What are the two main aims of precision farming? ›

      Precision Farming is a process where a large field is divided into a finite number of sub- fields, allowing variation of inputs in accordance with the data gathered. Ideally this will allow maximisation of return on investment, whilst minimising the associated risks and environmental damage.

      What happens if yield increases? ›

      Rising yields can create capital losses in the short-term, but can set the stage for higher future returns. When interest rates are rising, you can purchase new bonds at higher yields. Over time the portfolio earns more income than it would have if interest rates had remained lower.

      Is the primary aim of precision agriculture to increase crop yields and profitability? ›

      Precision agriculture seeks to use new technologies to increase crop yields and profitability while lowering the levels of traditional inputs needed to grow crops (land, water, fertilizer, herbicides and insecticides). In other words, farmers utilizing precision agriculture are using less to grow more.

      What is a disadvantage to precision agriculture? ›

      4) A Lack Of Scalability

      Often, the problems encountered by each operation will be similar, and require similar solutions. For precision agriculture to take hold, any technology that farmers are expected to implement must be scalable to the size of their own operation.

      What is the impact of precision farming? ›

      Precision agriculture leverages technologies to enhance sustainability through more efficient use of land, water, fuel, fertilizer and pesticides. Essentially, farmers who use precision agriculture technologies use less to grow more, reducing both cost and environmental impact.

      What is precision agriculture or farming and how does it improve agriculture yields? ›

      Precision agriculture seeks to exert more control over a production system by recognising variation and managing different areas of land differently, according to a range of economic and environmental goals.

      Why is precision agriculture more profitable? ›

      Precision farming increases the number of yields

      One of the most significant benefits of precision farming, and the reason it's so profitable, is the growth in yields. According to a project by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, yields can rise even up to 200% for specific crops.

      What are the two aims for improvement in crop yields? ›

      The objective of crop yield improvement are: Higher yield: This can be done by the process of hybridization and cross-breeding. Better quality: There are different reasons for improving the quality of different crops, such as improvement of the baking quality in cereals like wheat.

      Is precision agriculture effective? ›

      These precision agriculture practices lead to more efficient use of land, water, fuel, fertilizer and pesticides so that farmers can grow more, reduce costs and minimize their impact on the environment.

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