Plant Protection, Fertilizing and Irrigation Adaptation to Climate Change by Optimizing Irrigation Using Soil Moisture Sensors

Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns due to climate change increasing the demand for irrigation in agriculture. Particularly in irrigation-intensive regions, efficient water use is crucial to prevent yield losses and conserve resources. Against this background, various soil moisture sensors were tested under real field conditions as part of a research project and combined with remote sensing data. The results show that existing irrigation systems can be still optimized through digital solutions and customized sensor technology without necessarily requiring investment in new large-scale infrastructure. A key success factor is the integration of in-situ measurements with remote sensing data. However, a fully established implementation methodology that comprehensively accounts for subsurface heterogeneity is still lacking.