Advancing Horticulture through IoT and Sensor Technologies: Trends, Challenges and Future Directions

Smart horticulture involves integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensor-based technologies to change modern agricultural practices. These technologies facilitate crop monitoring, optimize resource usage, and increase productivity by making real-time data collection and automation possible. These IoT-based systems use WSN, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) for the precision application of horticulture, mitigating climate variability, pest infestation, and water scarcity issues. This review explores the key applications of diverse applications of IoT in horticulture, including soil moisture sensing for efficient irrigation management, automated irrigation systems to reduce water wastage, greenhouse monitoring to regulate temperature and humidity, and smart pest control mechanisms that employ AI-driven analytics for early detection and mitigation. Additionally, IoT facilitates real-time tracking of crop growth, nutrient levels, and environmental conditions, allowing farmers to adopt data-driven strategies for higher yields and reduced environmental impact. The paper highlights the benefits, challenges, and future prospects of IoT-driven horticulture for sustainable and efficient crop production.