Smart field in agriculture

Conceptsmart fieldsounds almost like a broken record now. It seems that everyone is talking about this, showing beautiful pictures from drones and sensors, but the actual implementation experience... often leaves much to be desired. There is often a desire for maximum automation, for replacing humans completely. I think there is one mistake here: one forgets about the complexity of biological processes, the unpredictability of weather, and the local features of the site. There is no ideal solution, and blindly copying other people's cases is doomed to failure. I will try to share my thoughts based on years of work in this field, with an emphasis on practical aspects.

What is a 'smart field' really?

Often a 'smart field' is understood as a complex of technologies: sensors for soil moisture, temperature, light; precision irrigation and fertilization systems; drones for monitoring the condition of crops; specialized software for data analysis and decision making. All this, of course, is great, but these are just tools. It is important that they do not work in isolation, but in combination, taking into account all the factors affecting the growth and development of plants. For example, a soil moisture sensor may indicate that the soil is dry, but this does not mean that you need to immediately turn on the watering. Maybe it was just that night came and evaporation decreased. This requires analysis, not automatic reaction.

Having started with something simple, with humidity monitoring, we, for example, ran into a problem: sensor data often disagreed with the visual perception of the situation on the field. It turned out that electrolytes in the soil affected the readings, and the sensor itself required regular calibration and maintenance. This is the first lesson: before implementing complex systems, you need to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the basic sensors.

Data analysis is not an end in itself.

Many people are concerned about data collection and analysis. Indeed, it is easy to get lost in the flow of information. Simply accumulating tons of data is not progress. It is necessary to be able to interpret them, identify patterns, and make forecasts. And here, as a rule, there is a lack of qualified specialists who can comprehend the data obtained and offer specific recommendations. Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology LLC is actively working on creating such solutions, striving to provide farmers with actionable insights rather than just data.

In one of our projects, we implemented a system for monitoring the condition of soybeans. Sensors showed that yields were lower than expected, but data analysis revealed that the problem was not insufficient watering or fertilizers, but plant diseases. By identifying problems early, we were able to prevent further losses and increase yields by 15%. This is an example of how data analysis can really help a farmer.

Practical problems and their solutions

In addition to technical difficulties, there are other problems. For example, this is the cost of implementation and maintenancesmart field. Not every farmer is ready to invest heavily in new technologies. We have to look for compromises, starting with the most necessary tools and gradually expanding the functionality of the system. It is important to consider return on investment (ROI) at each stage.

Energy consumption is another important aspect. Sensors, drones, irrigation systems all require energy. Ideally, renewable energy sources such as solar panels should be used to reduce operating costs and reduce environmental impact. Optimizing the operation of irrigation and fertilization systems also reduces energy consumption and saves resources.

Integration with existing infrastructure

Often farmers already have some kind of infrastructure - old irrigation systems, agricultural machinery. The question is how to integrate new technologies with this equipment. This can be a challenging process that requires adaptation and modification. But this is inevitable. It is important to choose solutions that are compatible with existing equipment and do not require complete replacement.

For example, we are often faced with the need to integrate modern irrigation control systems with outdated pumping stations. This requires the development of special adapters and software that allow synchronizing the operation of different system components. Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. offers a wide range of solutions for integration with various equipment.

Futuresmart fields

I think that the future of agriculture lies in automation and robotization. There will be robotic harvesters, unmanned tractors, and automatic systems for sorting and packaging products. All this will reduce costs, increase productivity and improve product quality. But these are long-term prospects. For now, it is important to focus on solving current problems and gradually introduce new technologies.

We, as specialists, need to constantly improve, study new technologies and develop solutions that will be truly useful to farmers. The main thing is to remember that technology is just a tool, and success depends on its proper use. Our experience shows thatsmart field- this is not just a set of sensors and software, it is an integrated approach that includes data analysis, process optimization and taking into account all factors affecting the growth and development of plants. We believe that through such approaches, agriculture can become more efficient, sustainable and profitable.

Shandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. is constantly working to create innovative solutions forsmart field. You can view our assortment on the website:https://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru.