Irrigation and Water Management of Tomatoes–A Review

Effective water management practices are essential for maximising tomato yield while mitigating the risks associated with climate change. The need for climate-smart irrigation management techniques in agriculture has increased to optimise water use efficiency and enhance crop productivity. Irrigation scheduling using precision agriculture technologies like soil moisture sensors is an effective and efficient water management strategy in crop production. This strategy helps growers apply the right amount of water at the right time to meet crop needs, thus reducing water wastage and increasing environmental sustainability. Combining soil moisture sensors and crop simulation models for real-time irrigation scheduling can enhance water use efficiency while reducing operations, energy costs, and labour in crop production. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the current efforts to improve irrigation management by integrating precision agriculture technologies such as soil moisture sensors, plant sensors, and crop models for irrigation scheduling in tomato production.