Precision farming technology helps to prevent the overuse of chemicals, which means that harmful chemicals cannot affect the soil since they cannot seep into it. Precision agriculture gives farmers the ability to more effectively use crop inputs including fertilizers, pesticides, and tillage and irrigation water. More effective use of inputs means greater crop yield and (or) quality, without polluting the environment. Precision agriculture technologies and practices help farmers reduce the amount of inputs they use, which can help reduce the risk of environmental pollution. Precision ag technologies can help farmers monitor and manage their crops more effectively, which can help reduce the risk of pests and diseases and improve soil health. The extensive use of pesticides in agricultural production can degrade and damage the community of microorganisms living in the soil, particularly when these chemicals are overused or misused as chemical compounds build up in the soil. Precision agriculture increases efficiency and productivity by enabling farmers to target their inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to specific areas of the field that need them the most, rather than applying them uniformly across the entire field.Significance of Precision Farming: Prevents soil degradation and reduction of chemical application in crop production, efficient use of water resources. Dissemination of modern farm practices to improve quality, quantity and reduced cost of production. Being able to accurately decrease fertilizer, herbicide or seed rates in areas where it will not be economical to utilize is one of the key benefits of precision agriculture. Increasing yields because of applying agronomic principles at a high resolution, while reducing costs increases overall profitability. The precision spraying system based on real-time sensors reduced the volume of pesticides applied to crops. The cost reduction achieved using this technology was 2.3 times lower than the cost associated with pesticide application over the entire area using a conventional sprayer.
Precision agriculture, which involves using advanced technologies to optimize crop production, can potentially reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, leading to a reduction in negative environmental impacts. However, it can also lead to increased use of pesticides and herbicides if not implemented carefully.
Precision agriculture technologies, such as sensors, drones, and GPS, enable farmers to target specific areas of their fields that require treatment, reducing the amount of pesticides and herbicides used. This can minimize environmental impacts, such as soil and water contamination, and reduce health risks to farmers and consumers.
However, the adoption of precision agriculture can also lead to an increase in pesticide and herbicide use if not managed carefully. For example, farmers may rely too heavily on technology and apply pesticides and herbicides indiscriminately, without considering the actual need or impact on the environment. Moreover, the cost of precision agriculture technology may encourage farmers to apply more pesticides and herbicides to maximize their profits.