Innovative Techniques in Agriculture: Transitioning From Traditional Farming to Precision and Hydroponic Agriculture

Abstract

Precision agriculture and hydroponics are the main topics of this review, which examines the shift from conventional farming practices to modern innovations in agriculture. Despite the long history and significance of traditional agriculture, it is increasingly confronting challenges such as the need for sustainable food production, water scarcity, climate change, and environmental degradation. Precision farming maximizes agricultural yields while cutting resource consumption by 20%–30% by utilizing data-driven methods such as satellite images, IoT-enabled sensors, and AI algorithms. According to studies, installing precision irrigation systems can greatly lessen the environmental impact by increasing water-use efficiency by up to nearly 40%. Based on data techniques for improving crop yields, minimizing environmental impact, and maximizing resource utilization are provided by precision agriculture. By conserving water, permitting nutrient recycling, and supporting urban and vertical farming, hydroponics is a soilless agricultural technique that offers a sustainable solution. The hydroponics market in India is also covered in this assessment, with an emphasis on its prospects for expansion and contributions to urban food security. The use of these novel methods promises an agricultural future that is more adaptable, effective, and environmentally friendly, solving the immediate problems of the present while ensuring future generations' access to food. This review investigates how hydroponic systems and precision agriculture can be combined to provide automated changes and real-time nutrient monitoring. Such collaboration not only reduces labor costs and the environmental impact, but it also increases productivity by 25%–50%. These methods are used, for instance, by hydroponic farms in places like Singapore to grow fresh vegetables all year round in small areas, addressing the problem of urban food security.