Advances in Precision Fruit Production under Arid Conditions Using IoT and Remote Sensing Technologies: A Review

Abstract

Fruit production in arid and semi-arid regions is constrained by water scarcity, high temperature, poor soil fertility and increasing climate variability. This review examines the contribution of Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensing technologies to precision fruit production under such resource-limited conditions. The manuscript synthesises published literature, technical reports and institutional information on precision orchard management, IoT-based monitoring, remote sensing tools, smart irrigation, crop-health assessment and stress detection. IoT-based systems, including soil moisture sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, smart weather stations and automated irrigation controllers, support real-time monitoring of soil, crop and microclimatic conditions. Remote sensing tools, including satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicles, multispectral cameras and thermal sensors, provide spatial information on canopy condition, water stress, nutrient variability, pest incidence and crop performance. Together, these technologies support improved irrigation scheduling, fertigation management, early stress detection and site-specific crop management. The review also highlights their relevance for fruit crops grown under arid conditions, including pomegranate, mango, banana, grapes, date palm and dragon fruit. However, adoption remains limited by high initial costs, inadequate digital infrastructure, limited technical expertise, data-management challenges and fragmented landholdings. The review indicates that wider use of IoT and remote sensing in precision fruit production will require affordable technologies, farmer training, improved connectivity and context-specific decision-support systems.