Enhancing Agricultural IoT with Predictive Analytics and Reinforcement Learning Models

This research explores the augmentation of Agricultural Internet of Things (IoT) systems through the integration of advanced predictive analytics and reinforcement learning models. A novel algorithm, termed "CropQL," is proposed to optimize crop yield prediction and resource allocation in precision agriculture. CropQL amalgamates the strengths of the CropNet IoT model with Q-Learning for reinforcement learning and Random Forest for predictive analytics. Simulation analyses are conducted to evaluate the performance of CropQL against established algorithms, employing diverse metrics such as precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). The proposed CropQL algorithm exhibits superior predictive accuracy, demonstrating a significant enhancement in crop yield forecasting when compared to baseline algorithms. Precision and recall metrics reveal the algorithm's efficacy in minimizing false positives and negatives, ensuring precision agriculture systems make informed decisions. F1 score indicates the balanced optimization of precision and recall, reinforcing the algorithm's robustness. AUC-ROC analysis further corroborates the superior discriminative power of CropQL in distinguishing between positive and negative instances. In comparison to existing algorithms, including AgriSensNet, PrecisionCropNet, and IoTFarmGuard, CropQL consistently outperforms in predictive accuracy and resource optimization. The simulation results underscore the efficacy of the proposed algorithm in enhancing the efficiency of agricultural IoT systems, providing a promising avenue for sustainable precision farming.