Leveraging Remote Sensing Technologies: A Review of Precision Cropping Challenges and Research Trend Analysis

Abstract Precision cropping is a driving force for modernising agriculture which uses technologies such as sensors, satellites, and drones to monitor crop health, soil, and environmental conditions by remote sensing. This provides real-time, high resolution data, facilitating improved processes. However, challenges associated with big data influx, integration, interpretation, and validation of data persistently complicate decision-making, necessitating the effective advanced tools and collaboration. This review explores the role of remote sensing technologies, tools, and data in addressing challenges of precision cropping. It focuses on three objectives: (1) examining the practical challenges faced by farmers, (2) assessing how remote sensing data can fix those challenges, and (3) analysing methods for integrating remote sensing data into operational tasks. Data was collected from Web of Science (WoS) database and analysed using VOSviewer (v. 1.6.20). After refining and screening 2,207 documents, 171 relevant articles were studied, with particular attention to precision cropping challenges, technologies, and integration. Key challenges identified include crop water stress, weed infestation, data redundancy, water management, and land usage ambiguity. Moreover, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and satellites played a critical role in diagnosing soil needs, monitoring crop health, and predicting yields. We found that soil digital mapping, software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and hybrid-based data featured among the integration methods for enhancing accuracy of crop management. Remote sensing, when integrated with other technologies, offers significant capacity to address precision cropping challenges. While barriers like maximisation complexity and sensor limitations exist, technological advancements and cost-reduction strategies are expected to improve sustainability and productivity in farming.