Development of an integrated smart farm system for open-field soybean cultivation in a former paddy fields

Introduction Despite rapid advancements in smart farming, most technologies remain confined to controlled greenhouse environments, leaving a critical gap in scalable solutions for open-field cultivation, particularly in repurposed paddy fields with complex soil and hydrological conditions. This study aimed to develop and empirically validate an integrated smart agriculture system for improving the productivity and sustainability of open-field soybean cultivation. Methods An integrated smart agriculture system was designed and deployed in a real open-field soybean production environment. The system incorporated multi-sensor-based environmental and crop-growth monitoring, AI-based pest and disease detection and decision support, automated precision irrigation and drainage control, UAV-based operations, autonomous agricultural machinery, and an integrated monitoring and control system (IMCS). System performance was evaluated through field implementation by comparing yield and labor efficiency with those of conventional farming practices. Results The integrated system enabled real-time monitoring of field conditions, early detection and response to pest and disease outbreaks through smart traps and UAV image analysis, and data-driven control of irrigation and drainage. As a result, soybean yield increased by approximately 20% and labor requirements were reduced by 53% compared with conventional cultivation. Conclusion The proposed integrated smart agriculture system demonstrated that system-level digital integration can substantially enhance productivity and operational efficiency in open-field soybean farming. By moving beyond isolated applications of individual technologies, this study provides a scalable and practical framework for the digital transformation of open-field agriculture, contributing to sustainable crop production and food security.