Smart horticulture: Integrating precision techniques and IoT applications for sustainable crop production

Despite significant advancements in horticultural production, conventional farming systems continue to face major challenges, including inefficient use of water and fertilizers, delayed decision making, low input-use efficiency, and increasing environmental degradation. In addition, the limited integration of precision horticulture practices with Internet of Things (IoT)-based technologies restricts the development of sustainable, automated, and data-driven horticultural management systems. The integration of precision horticulture and IoT technologies is transforming horticultural crop production worldwide toward a sustainable and highly efficient system. Precision horticulture tools, such as variable-rate irrigation, nutrient management, and automated pest monitoring, enable farmers to optimize input resources based on horticultural crop requirements, reduce wastage, and minimize environmental impact. Precision horticulture with IoT enables smart practices, such as smart sensors, drones, and wireless monitoring systems that continuously collect real-time data. This real-time data allows farmers to make efficient and timely decisions regarding irrigation scheduling, nutrient supplementation, pest and disease control, and ultimately reduce crop losses. It directly enhances yield quality and quantity, manages soil moisture, nutrient content, plant growth, and disease incidence. IoT-enabled devices incorporate machine learning and AI, facilitating predictive modeling for early detection of biotic and abiotic stresses, and mitigating potential threats before they significantly affect yield. Beyond optimizing efficiency, these integrated practices provide sustainable solutions by using resources more efficiently, reducing chemical waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating the urban heat island effect, and promoting an eco-friendly farming approach. This review narrates the role, the applications of IoT-enabled precision techniques, and the ability to enhance fruit and vegetable monitoring, optimize input use, generate revenue, and ensure long-term sustainability. These integrated approaches have the potential to transform global horticultural food production into a sustainable, efficient, and resilient system capable of meeting the accelerating food demand while conserving natural resources and ensuring long-term horticultural sustainability.