Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists

Series on Agriculture, Silviculture and Veterinary Medicine

Volume 15 , Number 1 / 2026

ISSN 2344-2085

149

THE NEED TO DEVELOP PRECISION AGRICULTURE

IN THE CONTEXT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Vasile BOTNARI¹

Abstract. Analysis of agricultural practices applied at different stages of development

shows numerous examples when, under conditions of concentration and intensification of

agricultural production, deviations of technological parameters from optimal values lead

either to a sharp decrease in yield, or to a decrease in the quality of production,

environmental pollution with chemical compounds associated with a decrease in soil

fertility and labor productivity. In the context of climate change, the development of

precision agriculture has gained wider distribution due to the performance of information

technologies, high-speed Internet and the possibility of obtaining information in digital

format about the condition of agricultural land and crops from a distance. Thus, precision

agriculture presents

a

comprehensive system of high-performance agricultural

management, which includes methods of rotation and positioning of agricultural crops,

complete information matrices, information evaluation systems and development of

technological decisions

Keywords: Precision agriculture, technology, information, changes climate

DOI

10.56082/annalsarsciagr.2026.1.149

1. Introduction

Vulnerability of agriculture to climate change

Despite the progress made in improving productivity and plant resistance to biotic

and abiotic factors, the implementation of new varieties, efficient agricultural

techniques and the improvement of plant protection systems, the level of harvests

remains relatively low, with large fluctuations both at the producer (farmer) and at

the branch level. This phenomenon has become particularly pronounced in the last

two decades, which indicates the presence of climate change and the significant

importance of climate factors in the formation of harvests.

It is known that one of the factors of these changes is caused by the progressive

warming of the global climate.

¹Dr. Hab. Eng., Principal Scientific Investigator: Resistance Genetics Laboratory Plants within

Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection of the State University of Moldova,

Chisinau. Republic of Moldova. Honorary Member of the Academy of Romanian Scientists,

Bucharest, Romania. E-mail: vasilebotnari52@gmail.com, vasilebotnari@yahoo.com

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Currently, several forecasts are being developed based on simulation models that

anticipate that with the increase in the average annual temperature in Europe, in

the number of hot days [9], the intensity and duration of drought is also forecast,

which may lead in the future to a worsening of the soil moisture regime and an

increase in the frequency of droughts throughout the Republic of Moldova.

Due to its geographical location, the territory of the Republic of Moldova is

included in the region with an insufficient humidity. The predominance of the

agricultural involves the dependence of the national economy on climatic

conditions. According to the international classification of arid territories, the

Republic of Moldova is characterized as a subhumid - dry geographical area, with

a hydrothermal coefficient of 0.50 - 0.65. [7, 8]. Insufficient or lack of long-term

precipitation against the background of high temperatures leads to the

intensification of the drought phenomenon, with frequent manifestations in the

central and southern areas. In the North of the country, a severe drought is

recorded 1-2 times in 10 years, in the Center 2-3 times, and in the South 3-4

times. Out of the last 20 years, 11 have been dried and with droughts. In the

southeastern part of the country, lands with semi-arid characteristics are

increasingly obviously [2].

Precipitation during the vegetation period of plants, sometimes in the form of

torrential rains accompanied by hail, does not directly contribute to the

accumulation of moisture reserves in the soil, and in some cases worsens the

situation even more, causing floods, erosion and partial or total destruction of

agricultural crops [8]. In the absence of precipitation, the harvest of cereal and

rapeseed crops can be compromised on a large part of the territory of the country,

which oblige some farmers to re-cultivate part of the autumn sowings and sow

them with crops from the second group, corn or sunflower. Due to the poor

growth and development of plants, low yields, in most cases, do not cover the

costs of harvesting, in the central and southern areas, part of the areas of these

crops in some years remaining unharvested.

Expectations of covering the losses caused by drought in cereal crops, even

partially, with the harvest of crops from the second group, corn, sunflower,

soybeans, sugar beets, are not coming true.

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151

a. Corn

b. Sugar beet

Fig. 1. Crops compromised by drought

On the contrary, against the backdrop of supraoptim temperatures, in the absence

of humidity, these crops suffer even more, so that agricultural crops from the

second group are more seriously compromised, including in the Central and

Northern areas (Fig. 1). Such situations are becoming more typical year by year.

Climate change may lead to a decrease in the productivity potential of many

agricultural crops, requiring at the same time some changes in the principle of

homologation of varieties by geographical areas, a review of crop rotation with

the determination of risk areas, a review of the spectrum of diseases and pests

with the continuous updating of plant protection systems. In this context, studies

on the individual role of each factor (extreme temperatures, atmospheric,

pedological or hydrological drought, heat, hail, frosts during the crop growing

season, etc.) are of a particular importance, as well as the analysis of different

scenarios of their impact on the level of harvests and the competitiveness of the

production obtained [3, 10].

The phenomenon of global warming reported in the last two centuries, especially

in the last decades, represents a continuous increase in average atmospheric

temperatures in the immediate vicinity of the ground, as well as of the surface of

the waters. In the last century, the average air temperature near the Earth's surface

has increased by 0.74 ± 0.18°C, reaching values of approximately 15°C [1].

A study of the evolution of the average temperature at a global level reconstructed

and recognized by climatologists, shows that the last decade of the 20th century

and the first two of the 21st century constitute the warmest period in the last 2000

years. The current era is warmer by a few tenths of a degree compared to the

medieval maximum. The evolution of temperatures will continue to increase.

According to the European Union Space Program Copernicus [6] July 2023 was

the warmest month on record, and August was estimated to be the second

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warmest. In the first nine months of the year, the global average temperature was

by 0.01°C lower than in 2016, the warmest year on record.

With global warming, summers are becoming increasingly hot, leading to

prolonged drought. Although agriculture, especially in the South, has always been

exposed to chronic water and soil moisture shortages, climate change has further

amplified these problems [8, 10]. Dry soils and the lack of water resources

available for irrigation, in many cases seriously affect agricultural businesses,

reducing productivity potential and production quality. In addition to the afore

mentioned, high temperatures can favor the emergence of new pests characteristic

of other geographical areas, the much more intense spread of pests and diseases,

directly affecting plant health.

Analysis of climate scenarios indicates a real probability that the following years

will be just as warm, and their influence on the global average temperature may be

even greater [17]. Drawing a similarity with the geographical area of Moldova, we

will mention that the air temperature in the summer months in 2022-2024

recorded values of 21.3-23.9 ºС, being by 2.1-2.7 ºС higher than the multiannual

average.

Possible climate scenarios for Moldova were developed using a set of General

Circulation Models (GCM), applied as a research tool for studying and simulating

climate [13, 16]. The results of experiments conducted using GCM and based on

different greenhouse gas emission scenarios, marked A2 and B2 in the Special

Report on Greenhouse Gas Emission Scenarios [14, 16 ] for three time periods

(2010-2039; 2040-2069; 2070-2099) serve as a benchmark for extrapolation.

According to both emission scenarios, average annual temperatures across the

entire territory of the Republic of Moldova will increase. By the end of the

century, temperature increases could average 4.1-5.4 °C. Depending on the GCM

experiment, these values range from 1°C to 6°C.

With increasing temperatures, annual precipitation is also projected to decrease,

especially under the A2 emissions scenario, which projects significant warming

for the Republic of Moldova in winter and between seasons. By the 2080s,

negative temperatures (reference -21°C) could decrease by 2 - 5.7°C, and average

spring and autumn temperatures could be higher by about 4 - 5°C. Over the course

of the current century, relatively more moderate warming is assumed to occur in

the summer months, by 1 - 3°C. Some increase in precipitation is also projected in

winter and spring, but the trends for summer and autumn are predominantly

negative, decreasing by about 20-30% by the 2080s. Overall, we can expect

warmer and wetter winters in the future, but warmer and drier conditions in

summer and autumn. By analogy, in Moldova we could have winters like in

France, Great Britain and summers like in Greece and Spain.

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153

Climate change in the Republic of Moldova shows that all years from 2015 to

2024 were among the warmest recorded since the beginning of instrumental

observations (1871), with annual average values of over 12.0°C, which is by 2°C

higher than the multiannual average and which reveals a more pronounced

acceleration compared to other geographical areas [5]. Greater amplitudes of this

warming are observed in the southern districts of the country. In the northern part,

the increasing trend includes values in the range of 1.5-1.6°C, in the southern area

temperatures increase more rapidly, reaching the value of 2.3°C. The increasing

trend in temperature intensifies the phenomenon of heat, the latter being more

pronounced in summer (June-August).

Meteorological observations show that in recent decades, in the center and north

of the country, the phenomenon of "dryness and heat" has been manifested with a

duration of 3 - 7 days. Under such conditions, agricultural crops are less affected

by thermal stress generated by temperatures above 25 °C and relative air humidity

below 30%. In some places, in the southern districts, the phenomenon of "heat"

has a greater intensity, with a duration of over 10 days [10] .

As a result of higher temperatures, evaporation will increase by 15-20% in the

coming periods and approximately twice by the end of this century. More

pronounced signals of climate change are expressed in the case of the A2

emissions scenario. The aridity index also denotes that the climate in the Republic

of Moldova tends towards a drier one, from a state with insufficient moisture with

subhumid areas, towards dry and semi-arid areas [9, 10].

Climate change is expected to make droughts considerably longer and more

intense in the future. Extreme weather events are likely to become more frequent

in the future [17]. Forecasts predict that temperatures of 34–35 °C, previously

considered rare, could soon become the norm in summer [7].

From the point of view of aridity and dryness, the number of days with reference

to the active vegetation period determines the months of May-August as a critical

period for plant growth and development of the main agricultural crops. Dry days

are considered those days that maintain a high thermal background (>25 °C) and a

low relative air humidity (<30%), conditions with a major negative impact on

plant growth and development. The maintenance of long intervals with dry days

demonstrates that they have doubled in recent years compared to the first decades,

which underlines the accelerated pace of climate change at the regional level.

In the context of climate change, which represents a risk for agriculture, it is

necessary to review some habits rooted in agricultural practice, simultaneously

with the adaptation of plant cultivation technologies capable of ensuring the

maintenance, and in some cases an increase of productivity in agricultural crops.

Regardless of the extent to which the effects of climate change will be felt, thanks

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to the genetic reserves accumulated during evolution with the contribution of

plant breeding research, varieties with increased capacity to adapt to new

environmental conditions have been created.

In context, thsi paper emphasize the role of precision agriculture as an important

factor for increasing crop production.

2.Materials and methods

The research focused on assessing the level of scientific assistance in agriculture

in the Republic of Moldova, mainly related to plant cultivation, multilateral

analysis of the research methodology, technological recommendations developed

for the main agricultural crops and the results of their implementation in the

context of the variability of climatic factors, data from the National Bureau of

Statistics on the average harvest per unit area and the level of global production,

regulatory acts developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, as

well as state policies for adapting agriculture and the environment to climate

change with the implementation of organizational and technological measures to

mitigate their impact on the agricultural sector.

In order to analyze the problems related to the instability of agricultural crop

productivity and the processes of desertification and long-term soil degradation, to

which some territories of the Republic of Moldova are prone, based on statistics

and newsletters of the State Hydrometeorological Service [15] were reassessed,

the climatic resources were reassessed with reference to the agroclimatic zones of

the South, Center and North of the Republic of Moldova, from the perspective of

sustainable development and competitiveness of agriculture.

To determine the impact of climate variability on crop productivity, the study took

into account operational information and that accumulated in the databases of the

automated system for monitoring climatic and agrophysical parameters within the

Institute of Genetics, Physiology and Plant Protection.

Meteorological data and soil moisture reserves throughout the year (at an interval

of 15 minutes) have been maintained in the database since 2016, from where they

can be accessed at any time. To assess the influence of climatic factors on plant

productivity, large data sets are used regarding climatic parameters with values

(maximum, minimum and average of: air temperature °C, relative air humidity %,

wind direction gr, wind speed in m/sec and km/h, solar and active radiation in

W/m² and Mj/m², precipitation in mm), soil moisture on profiles 0-10; 20-30; 30-

40; 40-60; 60-100 cm, temperature and electrolyte concentration in the superficial

soil layers (0-5; 5-15 and 15-30 cm).

Physiological parameters: photosynthesis intensity, diurnal and nocturnal

transpiration, microclimatic parameters, as well as the reaction of genotypes to

The need to Develop Precision Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change

155

extreme climatic conditions (superoptimal temperatures, atmospheric and

pedological drought) are determined at different stages of plant development,

using the RTM-48A phytomonitor [11]. The monitoring process allows for

automatic measurements at certain time intervals, with the production of

phytodiagrams in the form of a film, over a period of 24-72 hours.

For a thorough argumentation of the need for the development and

implementation of precision agriculture, the investigations were carried out

following an extensive analysis of the literature on the given topic and the

approaches formulated in the consensus of the international scientific community

on the current state and future scenarios of climate change, taking into account the

fact that the Republic of Moldova has adhered to the most important global and

European agreements to combat their possible negative effects.

3.Results and discussions

3.1.Precision agriculture – an important factor in increasing plant

productivity

The concept of precision agriculture itself appeared in the 1980 s, with the

appearance of the first maps for the differentiated application of fertilizers, based

on the analysis of soil samples included in the cartogram of agricultural lands.

However, the idea of precision agriculture has gained wider distribution in recent

years, due to the development of information technologies, high-speed Internet

and the possibility of obtaining information in digital format about the condition

of agricultural lands and crops from a distance. In general, precision agriculture is

a comprehensive system of high-performance agricultural management, which

includes methods of rotation and positioning of agricultural crops, complete

information matrices, systems for assessing yield and technological parameters.

The expansion of technical progress and the accelerated development of artificial

intelligence have also influenced the agricultural sector. In the specialized

literature of the last decades, several notions have appeared with reference to the

imprint of technical progress on agriculture, such as: industrial agriculture,

sustainable agriculture, conservative agriculture, organic agriculture, digital

agriculture and others. In this case, we will only refer to some appreciations given

to the concepts of smart agriculture and precision agriculture, defining the

commonalities and differences [19].

As defined and presented by FAO at the 2010 Hague Conference, smart

agriculture aims to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by

integrating the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and

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environmental), while addressing food security in the context of climate

challenges [9, 12].

In our view, precision agriculture represents the differentiated adaptation of the

agricultural production process to climate change, through the efficient

implementation of crop rotation and rotation, continuous monitoring of soil and

environmental fertility, in order to ensure the most acceptable circumstances for

the establishment and maintenance of agricultural crops, while optimizing

irrigation practices and monitoring environmental conditions, harvesting and

capitalizing on the production obtained.

In terms of plant cultivation, precision agriculture includes the establishment and

maintenance of agricultural crops in accordance with plant needs in terms of

moisture and nutritional level, capable of ensuring optimal technological

conditions for plant growth and development, productivity and production quality,

while maintaining or reducing costs under different production conditions [2].

The scientific concept of precision agriculture is based on the idea of excluding as

much as possible disturbances along the entire chain of the technological process.

To detect and evaluate these heterogeneities, special agricultural business

management programs based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and

Global Navigation are currently available. Satellite System (GNSS), advanced

irrigation control practices equipped with equipment and sensors for measuring

soil moisture and determining watering norms depending on climatic conditions

and plant needs, etc. The collected and processed data are used for planning crop

establishment periods, calculating fertilizer and pesticide application rates, more

accurate productivity prediction and financial planning [19].

In the Republic of Moldova, the approach to the concept of adapting plant

cultivation technologies to climate change and production was developed three

decades ago, during which the foundations for the development of precision

agriculture were laid. In 2018, the monograph “Fundamentals of managing

technological processes for cultivating vegetable crops in open ground” [4] was

published, where the conceptual support for the development of precision

agriculture was presented, taking into account mathematical achievements in the

field of simulation of crop formation processes in the “ soil-plant-atmosphere ”

system.

The currently used crop forecasting methods and their implementation methods do

not foresee and do not cover unpredictable situations caused by the instability of

climatic factors. In addition, in connection with the transition to the requirements

of a market economy, in addition to economic indicators, it is necessary to take

into account a multitude of environmental, energy and organizational factors. This

involves the processing of large amounts of information and calculations, the

The need to Develop Precision Agriculture in the Context of Climate Change

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implementation of which, without the support of an integrated decision-making

system, is difficult to achieve.

Scientific progress and experience demonstrate that solving problems related to

the rational management of the process of forming the productivity of agricultural

crops is possible. The situation can change only with the transition from

declarative, purely experimental and empirical conclusions to quantitative,

experimental-theoretical ones, based on the use of simulation models of growth,

plant development and the formation of the productivity of agricultural crops,

associated with expert systems and support for the adopted agronomic decisions.

The methodology for anticipating truly possible yields, based on optimizing the

main factors of plant growth and development, can be accepted as an effective

means of integrating theoretical and practical knowledge in the management of

the production process. The experience of crop scheduling in vegetable crops

demonstrates that satisfactory results can be obtained by using simulation models

of agroecosystem productivity, which allow "simulating" and analyzing numerous

technological versions and decision-making options with the help of information

technologies [4].

Current methods of programming and technological supervision of agricultural

crops are not without shortcomings. The recommendations obtained are not

always well-argued, which requires the improvement and development of new

methods of quantitative assessment of the conditions of growth, development and

formation of the productivity of agricultural crops. Improving the methodology

for continuous optimization of technological processes in agricultural activities

will contribute to obtaining a pre-calculated level of productivity of agricultural

crops, maintaining

soil

fertility

while complying

with

environmental

requirements, sanitary standards, as well as improving the concept of agronomic

decision-making.

In the sense of the above, it is appropriate to develop and implement in

agricultural practice methods for directing plant cultivation technologies, ensuring

the differentiated application of technological decisions, in accordance with

specific pedoclimatic and economic conditions. The emphasis is on the need to

move from fragmented research to directed research with the identification of

models for the formation of productivity and quality of plant production, the

development and implementation of information technologies based on the

management of technological processes, the optimization of plant density,

irrigation norms and terms, fertilizer administration norms and the timing of their

application, taking into account the condition of the soil, the biological

peculiarities of the cultivated varieties and the intensity of climatic factors. Thus,

precision

agriculture

includes

plant

cultivation

technologies,

specific

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computerization techniques and systems with the formulation of situation-specific

decisions and the assessment of effects in time and space.

The implementation of such a concept provides for the large-scale application of

information technologies, automated collection of data on production factors and

conditions, applied technological operations, improved diagnostics of the

phytosanitary situation in agroecosystems and decision-making for their

implementation.

The use of precision agriculture is becoming increasingly susceptible with the

development of GPS and GNSS navigation systems. Thus, currently, information

technologies used in precision agriculture ensure the systematic collection and

analysis of information about the state of the soil, plants, climate and other

factors, which in one way or another favor or affect the growth and development

of plants.

The support of navigation systems and the use of remote sensing images allow for

the precise determination of the location of the study object (the occurrence of

pests and outbreaks of infection) within the fields and the condition of agricultural

crops [18].

As a result of data processing and specific knowledge, information systems

provide agricultural producers with operational recommendations at the planning

level regarding the rational management of fertilizers, watering norms and timing,

soil cultivation, other operations and technological parameters in plant cultivation,

which, overall, contribute to reducing costs, minimizing environmental impact,

increasing the level of harvests, quality and completeness of agricultural

production [19].

Some of the components that underline precision agriculture are specialized

equipment and digital maps of fields, including various parameters and

characteristics. Drones and information obtained from satellites help to monitor

the condition of the field from a distance. Meteorological sensors and other types

of equipment determine temperature, humidity, electrolyte concentration in the

soil and other indices of the “ soil - plant - atmosphere ” system. Computers and

other equipment, including mobile phones equipped with software and

applications, support information analysis, documentation maintenance and

proper management of the entire technological chain and business plan.

In order to carry out a more in-depth analysis of the impact of climate change on

the productivity of agricultural crops, a control system of factors influencing

growth and development was created within the Institute of Genetics, Physiology

and Plant Protection of the Republic of Moldova, equipped with sensor

equipment, a meteorological station that automatically monitors climatic and

agrophysical parameters. Monitoring of climatic parameters and soil moisture

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159

reserves is carried out automatically throughout the year (Fig. 2). Meteorological

data are recorded and maintained in the database, from where they can be

accessed at any time. Thus, databases of climatic parameters are created with

values (maximum, minimum and average of: temperature °C, relative air humidity

%, wind direction gr, wind speed m/sec and km/h, solar and active radiation W/m²

,

and Mj/m² atmospheric deposition mm), soil moisture on profiles. 0 - 100 cm

(Fig. 3), temperature and electrolyte concentration in the superficial soil layers (0

-30 cm).

Fig. 2 Fragment of graphical representation of meteorological parameters

Fig. 3 Fragment of a graphical representation of soil moisture

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The equipment has the ability to determine the conductivity of the pore water

(ECp) and the conductivity of the water (EC) available to the plant roots. Nutrient

levels are checked by monitoring the conductivity of the electrolytes and adjusting

the injection of nutrients into the irrigation water. The sensor is easy to embed in

the soil or substrates and in just 5 seconds indicates the water content (%), the

conductivity of the pore water (ECp) and the temperature, other important

indicators that characterize the condition of the root zone. In some cases, nutrients

can be applied through fertilization, being administered directly into the soil with

various types of fertilizers. The rate at which they are absorbed by the plant roots

depends on several factors, including weather conditions and the soil moisture

regime.

In cases where recycled water or water extracted from rivers with high salt levels

is used for irrigation, an increase in soil salinity may occur over time, which will

ultimately reduce soil fertility and crop productivity. The WET-2 sensor is

convenient and effective for explicitly checking soil salinity, providing important

information for taking appropriate corrective measures.

Monitoring of agro-meteorological and agro-physical parameters of the soil in

field conditions with agricultural crops is carried out systematically, throughout

the entire vegetation period at highlighted time intervals, according to the same

measurement method with the data reading and storage device (www.deltalink-

cloud.com). Subsequently, the initially displayed and analyzed readings are stored

in memory and then downloaded to the computer. The information obtained and

stored in the databases can be transmitted to the Excel operating system or other

computing packages that perform a directed analysis with graphical representation

of the results.

Physiological parameters: photosynthesis intensity, diurnal and nocturnal

transpiration, microclimatic parameters, as well as the reaction of genotypes to

extreme climatic conditions are determined at different stages of development,

using the RTM-48A phytomonitor (Fig. 4).

Photosynthetic activity indices are monit ored by means of specific sensors in

direct contact with the plant. The device automatically monitors photosynthetic

activity in plants by analyzing CO₂exchange.

The equipment is equipped with cameras for attachment to leaves. The

phytomonitor's operation is based on the difference in CO₂concentration at the

outlet of the measuring chamber installed on the leaf in relation to the CO₂

concentration in the surrounding environment.

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Fig.4 Phytomonitor for determining physiological

indices in plants

The monitoring process allows for automatic measurements to be made at certain

time intervals, with the production of phytodiagrams in the form of a film, over a

period of 24-72 hours. As a result, concrete data are obtained on photosynthetic

activity and the reaction of plants to extreme climatic conditions in different

phases of development. A more detailed analysis of the results obtained allows for

the determination of the physiological activity integrated into the light saturation

curve for gross and net photosynthesis ( micromol CO₂/m²/s) [11].

Precision agriculture needs to be developed on the automation of processes along

the entire technological chain, from land preparation for sowing to harvesting,

transportation and storage of production. Current information systems allow

monitoring the location and more efficient choice of traffic routes for agricultural

machinery at all technological stages, including in the harvesting process, with the

exclusion of unauthorized transportation of production, which will ultimately

contribute to reducing losses and improving the financial situation of the

enterprise.

Equipping agricultural machinery with GPS navigation systems helps to avoid

overlaps and exclude missed areas when performing pre-sowing and crop

establishment work, administering fertilizers and applying pesticide treatments, as

well as consecutively determining soil moisture and temperature, microclimate

and other parameters in different areas of the field at a certain time interval.

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Agricultural machinery equipped with sensors and control systems ensures the

precise distribution of seeds and other means intended for each individual area of

the field. Given that the characteristics of different areas of the field vary

significantly, information technologies allow identifying these areas and taking

into account their characteristics when performing technological operations. This

allows farmers to more efficiently use seeds and seedlings, fertilizers and plant

protection products to obtain crop increases at lower costs. In such an approach,

intuition based on circumstances matters less and less. At the same time, the

operational system allows for the formulation and analysis of technological

decisions based on multilateral calculations of the current and future situation. In

addition, the rational use of material resources will lead, on the one hand, to

reducing the cost of agricultural production, and, on the other hand, to protecting

the environment.

Lately, farmers have been resorting to the differentiated use of fertilizers,

depending on the nutrient content in different areas of the field, identified with the

help of GPS receivers. In Based on an automated calculation system, fertilizer is

redistributed to the advantage of areas where an increase in the administration rate

is required and thus fertilizer application is differentiated, while soil fertility is

also homogenized.

Recording and storing on electronic support the history of fields, crop rotations,

applied works and harvest levels can contribute both to the formulation of

operational decisions and to the performance of specific assessments regarding the

technological cycle, which is becoming a mandatory and increasingly evident

condition to ensure competitive production and sustainable agriculture.

In the context of the above, precision agriculture can be used to improve the

condition of fields and agricultural management in various aspects:

(1)

From an agronomic point of view, taking into account the optimization of

nutritional regimes and other conditions for plant maintenance, growth and

development, highlighting phenophases, earliness and determining harvest levels;

(2)

From a technical point of view, better time management when carrying out

work during the periods of planting, harvesting, transport and valorization of

agricultural production (including directed planning of technological operations);

(3)

From an environment point of view, reducing the impact of cultivation

technologies and inputs on the environment (a more balanced assessment of the

phytosanitary status and the needs of agricultural crops in terms of fertilizers and

water to minimize the consumption of ingredients per unit of production);

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163

(4)

From an economic point of view, increasing productivity and/or reducing

costs, increasing the competitiveness of agricultural production, business

efficiency (including reducing costs for a production unit).

The system for controlling and maintaining technological parameters when

sowing or planting agricultural crops is equipped with sensors integrated into the

seeder and tractor, designed to ensure their continuous and constant monitoring.

The unit has an electronic device with complex functionalities, so that the

operator has exhaustive information about each coulter of the seeder or sprinkler

of the spraying machine throughout the operation. In this way, the control systems

ensure monitoring of technological parameters and the possibility of promptly

obtaining information about possible deviations, as well as emergency elimination

of malfunctions.

Sowing quality control systems ensure compliance with parameters such as seed

embedment depth, row spacing, seed uniformity and seeding rate. Together with

continuous monitoring of technological parameters, the system detects any

deviation from specified standards and warns the operator about any deviations

and problems that have arisen. This allows taking measures to correct the process

in question, minimizing losses and ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth

and development.

4. Conclusions

(1) Precision agriculture represents an important step in the development and

efficiency of sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of climate change

and the negative impact on the environment caused by the implementation of

intensive agricultural practices.

(2) Information and intelligent technologies play an important role in increasing

the productivity and competitiveness of agricultural production, the efficiency and

sustainability of agricultural systems.

(3) In order to develop and implement precision agriculture, it is important that

authorities, ministries of agriculture and environment, research institutions and

agricultural associations collaborate to develop strategies for the adaptation and

resilience of the agricultural sector to climate change, promoting sustainable

practices in supporting farmers towards advanced and environmentally friendly

agriculture.

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R E F E R E N C E S

[1]. Ammann, C. "Solar Influence on Climate over the Last Millennium: Results of Transient

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