IoT and sensor technologies: Increased water and nutrient savings and profit in Banana cv. Grand Nain (AAA) production

Abstract

Bananas are globally ubiquitous fruit, demands substantial resource inputs, notably water and fertilizers, for its cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of IoT-enabled precision farming in optimizing water and nutrient utilization, augmenting banana cv.Grand Nain productivity, and mitigating cultivation costs. This pioneering endeavour for Indian banana cultivation investigated three distinct irrigation regimes, each contingent upon soil water potential thresholds of -50, -100, and -150 kPa, in conjunction with three fertigation treatments comprising 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). Findings demonstrated that, combination of -50 kPa and 50 % of RDF (I3F3 strategy), characterized by the most stringent irrigation and fertilization thresholds, and exhibited superior growth attributes after 240 days. Although the control treatment initially displayed a growth advantage in terms of plant height, pseudostem girth, and leaf area index (LAI), the I3F3 strategy surpassed it after 330 days, culminating in greater plant height and the largest pseudostem girth at the 300-day mark. Furthermore, the I3F3 strategy yielded a substantial net profit of ₹ 2,77,892 ha-1, translating to a favorable benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.61, outperforming the control treatment. The cost per tonne of fruit was significantly reduced to ₹ 4,279 under the I3F3 strategy, while water productivity surged to 90 liters per kilogram of fruit, a considerable improvement over the control's 180 liters. Concurrently, the NPK fertilizer cost per plant diminished to ₹ 20.68, and fertilizer productivity increased to 0.625 per kilogram, signifying more efficient resource utilization. Notably, the I3F3 strategy achieved a remarkable 26.02 % water savings compared to the control, establishing it as a highly profitable and resource-conserving approach. In the contemporary agricultural landscape, grappling with soil degradation, water scarcity, and volatile market conditions, the I3F3 strategy emerges as a sustainable and economically viable solution for banana cultivation. By significantly curtailing water and NPK fertilizer usage, this approach mitigates farmers' economic risks and promotes environmental sustainability