AI and IoT-Based Smart Irrigation: A Review of Challenges and Future Trends

Özet

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) integration has established a new generation of intelligent irrigation systems that deliver sustainable water management solutions to address world water scarcity problems and agricultural requirements. This literature review presents an analysis of the present situation and obstacles alongside emerging trends of AI and IoT-based smart irrigation systems supported by international examples and technological milestones. Physical water conservation through AI-driven irrigation systems combined with IoT sensor surveillance and drone monitoring results in 20-35% water savings at the same time as improved yield outcomes across Australian regions together with Indian and Spanish territories. The wide use of smart irrigation systems is limited by technical difficulties that prevent rural Africa from connecting by economic pressures on poor farmers and by ethical challenges with European data security. The deployment become challenging because of scalability issues and maintenance problems that affect different farming ecosystems. The development of emerging technologies like edge computing, blockchain, and 5G, together with solar-powered IoT systems, provides solutions alongside research efforts toward energy-efficient climate-friendly designs. A comprehensive review combines current evidence into two major parts to evaluate its impacts on farmers, policymakers, and researchers. The review also shows where scalability and accessibility remain limited. The success of AI and IoT precision farming technology relies on cooperative work between multiple fields of study together with equal policies that support their implementation. Time must be dedicated to resolving these problems because smart irrigation systems need to fulfill worldwide food security along with sustainable development targets.