Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis

In this study, we conducted a scoping review and bibliometric analysis to evaluate the state-of-the-art regarding actual applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies to guide precision agriculture (PA) practices within smallholder farms. UAVs have emerged as one of the most promising t...

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Main Authors: Gokool, S., Mahomed, M., Kunz, R., Clulow, A.D., Sibanda, M., Naiken, V., Chetty, K., Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/129135
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author Gokool, S.
Mahomed, M.
Kunz, R.
Clulow, A.D.
Sibanda, M.
Naiken, V.
Chetty, K.
Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
author_browse Chetty, K.
Clulow, A.D.
Gokool, S.
Kunz, R.
Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
Mahomed, M.
Naiken, V.
Sibanda, M.
author_facet Gokool, S.
Mahomed, M.
Kunz, R.
Clulow, A.D.
Sibanda, M.
Naiken, V.
Chetty, K.
Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
author_sort Gokool, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this study, we conducted a scoping review and bibliometric analysis to evaluate the state-of-the-art regarding actual applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies to guide precision agriculture (PA) practices within smallholder farms. UAVs have emerged as one of the most promising tools to monitor crops and guide PA practices to improve agricultural productivity and promote the sustainable and optimal use of critical resources. However, there is a need to understand how and for what purposes these technologies are being applied within smallholder farms. Using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, 23 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science were analyzed to acquire a greater perspective on this emerging topical research focus area. The results of these investigations revealed that UAVs have largely been used for monitoring crop growth and development, guiding fertilizer management, and crop mapping but also have the potential to facilitate other PA practices. Several factors may moderate the potential of these technologies. However, due to continuous technological advancements and reductions in ownership and operational costs, there remains much cause for optimism regarding future applications of UAVs and associated technologies to inform policy, planning, and operational decision-making.
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spelling CGSpace1291352025-12-08T10:29:22Z Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis Gokool, S. Mahomed, M. Kunz, R. Clulow, A.D. Sibanda, M. Naiken, V. Chetty, K. Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe precision agriculture crop monitoring smallholders farming systems unmanned aerial vehicles bibliometric analysis food security machine learning remote sensing technology In this study, we conducted a scoping review and bibliometric analysis to evaluate the state-of-the-art regarding actual applications of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies to guide precision agriculture (PA) practices within smallholder farms. UAVs have emerged as one of the most promising tools to monitor crops and guide PA practices to improve agricultural productivity and promote the sustainable and optimal use of critical resources. However, there is a need to understand how and for what purposes these technologies are being applied within smallholder farms. Using Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, 23 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus and Web of Science were analyzed to acquire a greater perspective on this emerging topical research focus area. The results of these investigations revealed that UAVs have largely been used for monitoring crop growth and development, guiding fertilizer management, and crop mapping but also have the potential to facilitate other PA practices. Several factors may moderate the potential of these technologies. However, due to continuous technological advancements and reductions in ownership and operational costs, there remains much cause for optimism regarding future applications of UAVs and associated technologies to inform policy, planning, and operational decision-making. 2023-02-15 2023-02-28T23:38:35Z 2023-02-28T23:38:35Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/129135 en Open Access MDPI Gokool, S.; Mahomed, M.; Kunz, R.; Clulow, A.; Sibanda, M.; Naiken, V.; Chetty, K.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2023. Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis. Sustainability, 15(4):3557. (Special issue: Advanced Technologies, Techniques and Process for the Sustainable Precision Agriculture) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043557]
spellingShingle precision agriculture
crop monitoring
smallholders
farming systems
unmanned aerial vehicles
bibliometric analysis
food security
machine learning
remote sensing
technology
Gokool, S.
Mahomed, M.
Kunz, R.
Clulow, A.D.
Sibanda, M.
Naiken, V.
Chetty, K.
Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe
Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title_full Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title_fullStr Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title_full_unstemmed Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title_short Crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices: a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
title_sort crop monitoring in smallholder farms using unmanned aerial vehicles to facilitate precision agriculture practices a scoping review and bibliometric analysis
topic precision agriculture
crop monitoring
smallholders
farming systems
unmanned aerial vehicles
bibliometric analysis
food security
machine learning
remote sensing
technology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/129135
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