Emerging Technologies and Tools for Next-Generation Plant Growth Management

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing global population is putting increased demand on food supply. Moreover, deteriorating soil quality, drought, flooding, rising temperatures, and novel plant diseases negatively impact yields worldwide. One approach to food security is plant health monitoring and rapid detection of disease, nutrient deficiencies, or drought. The advancement in sensing technologies enables acquiring data efficiently with unprecedented resolutions for timely non-destructive monitoring. Emerging technologies such as unattended aerial vehicles (UAVs) coupled with sensor systems are increasingly used to capture crop growth. Together with traditional aerial and satellite-based systems, these systems provide monitoring data at various spatial and temporal scales. More recently, many newly developed sensors and data acquisition technologies have been developed to further support crop growth monitoring and yield prediction. Combining new data-processing algorithms (e.g., machine learning and big data architecture) and high-performance computers is expected to generate a better agricultural outcome.

In this Special Issue, we aim to disseminate the latest research findings in exploiting emerging technologies for smart agriculture, where its adoption can significantly contribute to decision-making and practical management interventions. It includes, but is not limited to, crop classification; monitoring diseases, pests, weeds, water stress, and nutrient deficiencies; crop modelling; predicting yield potential and its variability; and execution of management interventions.

Dr. Bikram Pratap Banerjee
Prof. Dr. Dong Wang
Guest Editors

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