Introduction
Over the last decade, the world has experienced rapid advancements in agricultural practices triggered by the increasing demand for efficient alternatives to human labor in crop production. The coordination of innovative mechatronics technology partly accounts for this progression, and, according to Ortiz, Litvin, and Fernandez (2018), it fosters the technical feasibility of automation. Agricultural automation refers to implementing IoT smart technologies to control or oversee several farm operations in real-time using sensors. This approach integrates the use of advanced computer technology such as auto-pest and climate control systems to manage environmental conditions as well as sensors to optimize plants’ growth phases. Moreover, it has been linked to increased plant yields, improved plant health and quality, and remote actual-time monitoring benefits. The paper provides an in-depth analysis of the drawbacks and benefits of automation, as well as the prospects for growth.
The Advantages of Automation in Horticulture
Several greenhouse automated machines such as sensors and computer software are linked and used to gather data in conservatory surroundings to boost crop yields and optimize production operations. According to Shashiri et al. (2018), this innovative approach integrates the use of multiple sensors connected to a central hothouse environment climate control PC. The collected information can be used in controlling specific aspects within the structure’s internal growing environment and saving labor, costs, energy, and time.
Automated climate control systems enhance the attainment of quality control and better crop yields. This innovative approach integrates the use of modern technology in regulating the humidity and temperature within a greenhouse during different weather conditions to make sure that plants thrive. Grower setpoints are usually developed within the automation software and activated whenever environmental conditions hit a specific level. For instance, a professional weather station enhances a farmer’s capacity to monitor prevailing weather conditions outside, such as rain, wind, temperature, and solar energy, which affect the conservatory’s effective functioning (Shamshiri et al., 2018). Data collected from this equipment allows one to adjust internal greenhouse conditions by triggering controls on the structure’s computer-programmed system.
Temperatures in a greenhouse often increase under intense sunlight, a phenomenon commonly referred to as solar gain. To gain access to the conservatory, solar light has to traverse through the structure’s plastic or glass. While doing so, light often loses a significant portion of its energy, which is translated into heat. Greenhouse humidity and temperature may rise to more than 450C in the absence of a cooling system (Shamshiri et al., 2018). The successful optimization of the conservatory environment requires one to counter the negative impacts of the external temperature. The use of appropriate automation and controls ensures favorable humidity and temperature for proper crop growth and health.
Wireless sensors facilitate the measuring and detection of soil moisture to activate irrigation feeds to crops. For instance, according to Ortiz et al. (2018), substrate soil sensors enhance the assessment of the appropriate range of water content, emulsifiable concentrate (EC), and temperature. This represents a significant automation advantage since the approach allows a farmer to compute and perceive the activities taking place at the crops’ root level and initiate proper adjustments in actual time for improved irrigation control. Multi-phase heating is another automation approach deemed crucial in regulating greenhouse temperatures with several sources and in steps. According to Lowenberg-DeBoer, Huang, Grigoriadis, and Blackmore (2020), the above-mentioned technology can stage-manage heating controls in numerous phases. This innovation has two primary benefits related to temperature modulation: remote monitoring and sensing as well as automatic operation sequence. These gadgets utilize one sensor element to manage both cooling and heating functions within a greenhouse. A farmer can situate the sensor and controller alongside the crops and outside, respectively, to allow the effective tracking of the underlying conditions and to adjust input trigger values.
The significant advancements in agricultural technology have also fostered the automation of weed and pest control practices, this consequently enhancing farm practices’ efficacy. According to Bhattacharyya, Haldankar, Patil, and Salvi (2017), various spatial herbicide application techniques and weed management and detection innovations have been launched to enhance the execution of duties deemed harmful to workers. Weed controllers are weed-seeking robotics with the ability to weed plants grown in rows by running the hoe amid the columns. This gadget is fitted with AI hoes and vision systems that enhance its ability to distinguish crop lines and steer precisely between them, thereby minimizing herbicides’ exigency. This machine runs around paddy fields using the GPS receiver and direction sensor’s data. Its efficiency is based on its capacity to distinguish weeds using weed maps and color photography.
Weed mapping relates to the procedure of tapping regions, weed species density, and positions utilizing the robotic vision facet. The aforementioned approach can be used to assess the distribution and infestation of weeds since weeds are typically patchy, unlike crops that have been planted systematically in lines. Another automation approach used to recognize weeds is through active shape identification initially designed for discerning human faces. According to Bhattacharyya et al. (2017), over nineteen weed species can be differentiated by these machines. The outcome acquired from the above-mentioned process can be transformed into a treatment map, thereby acting as template documentation for weed management.
Automated cultivation systems also facilitate the transplantation of crops and fertilizer application process. According to Bhattacharyya et al. (2017), the Iron Ox technology utilizes camera-fitted robotic arms to enhance plants’ grafting as they outgrow their present spaces. Bhattacharyya et al. (2017) reveal that this device’s arms have stereo cameras to identify plants and later grab them using a custom-designed gripper to align with the pods. The component is sandwiched between two trays of varying eyeballs and densities that enhance the moving of plants from one trencher to the other. Robotic gantries are currently being used to accelerate the fertilizer application process. These devices can control their functions according to changing weather conditions. For instance, when it’s windy, the machine automatically stops until the environmental conditions favor fertilizer application. The above-mentioned characteristic of robotic gantries improves their efficiency during operation.
Irrigation is an essential agricultural practice that is often done during off-raining seasons. This activity encompasses the watering of crops recurrently or whenever the need emerges. The automation of horticultural operations facilitates the utilization of robots for irrigation purposes. Ortiz et al. (2018) identify a robotic irrigator as a mechatronic sprinkler that mimics the revolving rain-gun. It enables the supply of alterable water rates and chemigation across a pre-defined region. Irrespective of their incapacity to distribute water in the appropriate proportions, it fosters a farmer’s ability to irrigate substantial field locations.
Harvesting robotics also plays a crucial role in horticultural practices by decreasing the amount of manual labor required when plants and crops become ready for harvest. According to He and Schupp (2018), these robots are capable of moving down the greenhouse aisle or farms and distinguishing unripe and ripened plants, harvest and putting them on-board boxing structures. The above-mentioned machine can also eliminate unwanted plants from the pack. The robotic capacity to execute selective harvesting effectively is based on two crucial factors. Firstly, it can cull produce without destroying neighboring plants. The second factor is its capability to sense the color and size quality element before the physiological maturity of produce or harvest according to flavor and ripeness.
The automation of horticultural operations also eases the execution of tedious work such as correct plant spacing during seeding and planting through spacing robotics. With closer tolerances and high speed, machines often operate with minimal errors producing high-quality work. Bhattacharyya et al. (2017) further highlight robots’ efficacy in reducing pesticide use by up to eighty percent. Robots also provide farm owners with an opportunity to substitute human operators with a good ROI (return on investment) by offering feasible solutions. Automation also positively impacts the horticultural marketing sector by creating a competitive advantage, reducing labor costs, and improving staff morale.
Cons of the Automation of Horticultural Practices
One major disadvantage associated with the automation of horticultural activities is the displacement of employees. Irrespective of the social benefits associated with retraining these workers for other jobs, these individuals often experience a period of emotional distress. They are usually forced to relocate geographically in search of other opportunities. Bhattacharyya et al. (2017) also associate this innovation with high investment and maintenance costs. Lowen-DeBoer et al. (2020) support this viewpoint by arguing that venturing into automation demands a high capital expenditure and maintenance level compared to machines that can be operated manually. Designing, fabricating, and installing an automated system costs millions of dollars. Bhattacharyya et al. (2017) also underscore the significant costs incurred in the research and development processes, consequently impacting profitability. Automated machinery also has a lower degree of flexibility correlated with technology limits. They are incapable of automating every task, and according to Bhattacharyya et al. (2017), their systems have been linked to several constraints. These appliances are devoid of human logic and could make errors that humans can avoid using common sense.
Prospects of Automation in Horticulture
The number of artificial intelligence systems used in horticulture is expected to increase significantly in the future following the implementation of autonomous robots powered by solar energy. These machines will be able to work for multiple hours without pause. Research related to the efficiency of capacitive and photoelectric sensors in enhancing localized cutting along crop lines is currently underway. According to Benke and Tomkins (2017), various study outcomes have revealed their suitability in intra-row weeding. Furthermore, reverse-engineering insect mechanics has led to the discovery of flying micro-robots, specially devised to cast around battlefields in search for victims trapped in record and rubble images, which is expected to be used in horticultural practices to enhance the control of weeds and insects. A micro-robot relates to a propellor with the capability to fly and land accurately on its target. The development of machines fitted with learning algorithms is currently underway. The above-mentioned instrument will be useful in detecting unhealthy plants and booting them out of the system automatically to prevent the spread of diseases.
Conclusion
The horticulture industry is currently experiencing a breakthrough transition in its operation driven by the progression in smart farming, data processing, and precision technology. Material handling equipment such as spacing, harvesting, and cultivating robotics allows for minimal manual labor and handling. Automated agricultural systems also foster the use of robotics in fertilizing, watering, and transplanting plants. These systems enhance a user’s capacity to manage their greenhouse from any location and view crucial data. However, certain drawbacks, for instance, increased costs and workers’ displacement, have been associated with this innovation. Robotic use in horticultural practices is expected to increase in the future due to significant technological advancements.
References
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