Harnessing Beneficial Microbes and Sensor Technologies for Sustainable Smart Agriculture

Abstract

The integration of beneficial microorganisms with sensor technologies represents a transformative advancement toward sustainable smart agriculture. This review synthesizes recent progress in combining microbial bioinoculants with sensor-based monitoring systems to enhance crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, and environmental resilience. Beneficial bacteria and fungi improve nutrient cycling, stress tolerance, and soil fertility thereby reducing the reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In parallel, sensor networks-including soil moisture, nutrient, environmental, and remote-sensing platforms-enable real-time, data-driven management of agroecosystems. Integrated microbe-sensor approaches have demonstrated 10-25% yield increases and up to 30% reductions in agrochemical inputs under optimized field conditions. We propose an integrative Microbe-Sensor Closed Loop (MSCL) framework in which microbial activity and sensor feedback interact dynamically to optimize inputs, monitor plant-soil interactions, and sustain productivity. Key applications include precision fertilization, stress diagnostics, and early detection of nutrient or pathogen imbalances. The review also highlights barriers to large-scale adoption, such as variable field performance of inoculants, high sensor costs, and limited interoperability of data systems. Addressing these challenges through standardization, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and farmer training will accelerate the transition toward climate-smart, self-regulating agricultural systems. Collectively, the integration of biological and technological innovations provides a clear pathway toward resilient, resource-efficient, and ecologically sound food production.