Developments in variable-rate application systems in precision agriculture

Publication date: 21-11-2025
Extent: 34 pages

Contributions by: Qamar Zaman and Travis Esau, Dalhousie University, Canada; Aitazaz Farooque, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada; and Shoaib Saleem, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Chapter synopsis:

Agriculture has always faced global challenges to meet the growing food needs, leading to the shrinking of arable lands. Efficient solutions to these real-world problems are hidden in developing high-yielding crop varieties and innovative precision agriculture technologies. Variable rate technologies (VRTs) have initiated a new trend in precision farming, allowing for the cost-effective and optimal application of water, pesticides and nutrients considering spatial and temporal variations. Through case studies and synthesis of scientific literature, the chapter presents VRTs and examines potential areas for future research and development. The chapter concludes that upcoming technological advancements have enormous potential to catalyse significant progress in crop protection, emphasizing improved production, sustainability and smart solutions to evolving global challenges around food security. The ongoing efforts to advance the precision, robustness and accessibility of VRT systems across various fields and applications are discussed.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.152.10