Hydrogels enabled smart agriculture: Preparation, properties, applications, and future prospects

With the continuous growth of the population and rising food demand, the rapid development of modern industry has driven technological innovations in agriculture. However, it has also led to numerous issues such as resource waste, increased environmental pollution, and soil degradation. Hydrogels, as functional polymer materials with a three-dimensional network structure, have significant advantages in the field of agriculture. Here, a summary of the latest research progress on hydrogels in the field of smart agriculture is provided, covering various agricultural scenarios such as data collection, precision fertilization, soil improvement, and crop cultivation. In addition, considering the actual needs of crops, the preparation methods and key characteristics of hydrogels have been discussed. The results indicate that hydrogels could play a crucial role in the field of smart agriculture through their design of structure and function. In addition, this article also analyzes the challenges that hydrogels currently face in smart agriculture and looks ahead to their future development direction. As research continues to advance, hydrogels are expected to evolve towards high performance, low cost, and biodegradability, contributing further to the precision and sustainability of agriculture. This article reviews the latest applications of hydrogels in the field of smart agriculture, as well as their preparation and required properties. • This review summarizes hydrogel research progress in smart agriculture and provides forward-looking perspectives on challenges. • This review discusses hydrogel preparation methods and characteristics based on crop needs, providing insights for agricultural hydrogel design. • This review examines hydrogel applications in smart agriculture, focusing on cutting-edge uses in emerging fields with insights.