Table 3 Advantages and disadvantages of smart fertilization-related methods.

From: A technical survey on practical applications and guidelines for IoT sensors in precision agriculture and viticulture

Method

Advantages

Disadvantages

References

Nutrient content (Electrochemical Sensor)

Rapid response

Retrieves a direct measurement of the source component under analysis.

Requires complex laboratory analysis.

133

Nutrient content (Optical Sensor)

Non-destructive technique

Provides a rapid evaluation in the visible and NIR bands.

The combination of different soil types can negatively influence the readings.

133

Nutrient content and soil pH (Soil Electrical Conductivity Measurement)

Rapid response

Low-cost solutions are available

Resilient sensor in terms of durability.

Reliability varies in different depths

Influenced by soil moisture and temperature fluctuations.

133

Soil electrical conductivity

No special maintenance is requires

With a proper installation, it can be accurate

Wide operating and measurement range

Typically combines multiple measurements into a single device

At the same location, continuous measurements can be ensured.

Temperature variations in wet conditions require constant measurement

The inclusion of a data logger may significantly inflate its cost.

134,135

Soil temperature

Easy to use

Continuous measurements

Sensor typically combines multiple measurements into a single device

Low latency during operation.

The inclusion of a data logger may significantly inflate its cost.

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