Applications of AI and IoT for Advancing Date Palm Cultivation in Saudi Arabia

*Maged Mohammed, Nashi K. Alqahtani, Muhammad Munir and Mohamed A. Eltawil*

## **Abstract**

Date palm cultivation is an essential part of Saudi Arabia's economy. However, it faces several challenges: water scarcity, improper farm management, pests and diseases, inadequate farming practices, processing and marketing, and labor shortages. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) can help enrich crop management, enable predictive analytics, increase efficiency, and promote sustainability in date palm cultivation. Recently, interest in this sector has begun by applying the latest precision engineering technologies integrated with AI and IoT techniques to address these challenges. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the applications of AI and IoT-based technologies, such as sensors, ML algorithms, and data analytics, and their potential benefits and challenges in supporting date palm cultivation in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the applications of AI and IoT in smart precision irrigation, smart systems, cold storage management, pest infestation prediction, and date fruit quality optimization. In addition, the potential economic and environmental benefits of using AI and IoT in date palm cultivation in Saudi Arabia and the challenges that need to be addressed to realize these benefits fully. The chapter provides insight into the latest developments and future directions for AI and IoT in date palm cultivation, providing valuable information for researchers and policymakers.

**Keywords:** artificial intelligence, artificial neural networks, machine learning, prediction, estimation, precision agriculture, intelligent systems

## **1. Introduction**

The agriculture sector worldwide has experienced significant changes recently, which have altered daily farm work activities. Due to the decrease in profit of certain farming businesses, the intensification of agricultural operations has followed, which has resulted in a diversification of farm activities. However, due to increasing industrial regulation, the agriculture sector's mechanization and automation have significantly influenced the qualitative transformation of farmers' daily work activities and those of the entire farming community globally. The farming industry has transformed because of new machinery, technological advancements, genetically

modified seeds, new fertilizers, and organic and sustainable farming. Innovative technologies are becoming increasingly crucial in the agriculture industry as a tool for sustainable development. Agriculture automation is a valuable strategy that has enhanced product quality while reducing production costs and manual labor and improving environmental sustainability. Automation in farming equipment, irrigation and fertigation systems, climate control, pest and disease management, and soil fertility contribute significantly to agricultural productivity [1–6].

Artificial intelligence (AI) can help farmers improve crop yields, reduce biomass waste, and make better decisions. To build precise maps of crops and soil, AI is used to analyze data recorded from sensors, drones, and satellites. The data is used to optimize fertilizer, irrigation application, and pest control. AI-driven irrigation systems, for instance, regulate watering schedules based on weather patterns and soil moisture levels, lowering water usage and boosting agricultural yields. AI technology is also used for crop monitoring purposes. It examines satellite or drone-shot images of crops to spot problem regions. For instance, it can spot disease or nutritional deficiency symptoms before they appear to the naked eye. Farmers are then able to take measures before the issue gets worse. AI also analyzes historical data on weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop yields to predict future outcomes. This information can be used to optimize planting schedules, predict crop yields, and identify areas at risk of crop failure. Drones and robots with AI capabilities can perform many on-farm tasks, from planting seeds to harvesting crops. As a result, less manual labor is required, and crop productivity increases. The health and well-being of livestock can be monitored using AI technology. It can, for instance, examine sensor data from animals to find symptoms of certain diseases [7–15].

Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices that sense real-time conditions and then trigger actions to respond, but many IoT applications require more complex rules to link triggers and responses. IoT applications in agriculture use sensors and other connected devices to collect real-time data and automate farming operations, leading to better efficiency, decreased costs, and improved yields. The agriculture sector is undergoing a revolution because AI and IoT technologies provide farmers access to real-time data and insights that help them make precise decisions. Integrating AI and IoT in agriculture improves farm productivity, reduces waste, and optimizes crop yield. In order to collect real-time data on crop health, soil moisture, and meteorological conditions, IoT technology is being employed in agriculture. This data can be collected by sensors placed around a farm and transmitted to a central database for AI algorithm analysis. This enables farmers to decide on irrigation, fertilizer, and other farming practices. AI and IoT in agriculture help lessen the environmental effects of farming in addition to increasing crop yields and minimizing waste. Farmers can reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers, consume less water, and produce less greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing their farming operations [5, 16–22].

The AI and IoT paradigms have seen widespread adoption by numerous businesses in recent years. Modern precision agriculture practices are largely mechanized and are integrated with effective and well-developed AI and IoT technologies. Although the concept of the IoT and AI is not new, it has recently gained massive popularity, mainly because of the upgradation in hardware technology over the past decade. AI and IoT technologies rapidly transform the agriculture sector through increased production, cost savings, and sustainability. Moreover, contemporary precision agriculture research has recently amalgamated with machine learning (ML) techniques to devise innovative solutions for agricultural challenges. Robots, drones, remote sensors,

#### *Applications of AI and IoT for Advancing Date Palm Cultivation in Saudi Arabia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113175*

computer and satellite imagery, constantly evolving ML models, and analytical equipment are used in the AI and IoT to monitor crop and livestock, storage rooms, macro-, and microclimate, survey, and field mapping in real time, as well as to provide data to farmers for logical farm management strategies that will not only simple, time, and resources saving but also improve crop production. These technologies are, therefore, increasingly being employed in the agriculture sector to support more environmentfriendly on-farm operations and improve ecological sustainability, all while maintaining the financial stability of farming enterprises [15, 23–27].

Date palm (*Phoenix dactylifera* L.) cultivation is an essential economic activity in many arid regions, including Saudi Arabia. Despite its economic importance, date palm cultivation faces several challenges, including water scarcity, pests and diseases, climate change, and the lack of postharvest processing technologies [28]. To address these challenges, there is a need for innovative and advanced solutions that can improve crop management and increase water use efficiency in date palm cultivation [29]. Recent AI and IoT advances can transform agriculture by providing real-time data on fruit quality, tissue culture systems, crop health, soil moisture content, and meteorological conditions [30]. In addition, using AI and IoT technologies in date palm cultivation can bring several environmental benefits, including optimized water use, reduced pesticide use, and improved soil health. Date palm cultivation is also water-intensive and can strain local water resources. AI and IoT technologies can bring several environmental benefits to date palm cultivation. One potential benefit of using AI and IoT in date palm cultivation is water use optimization.

By installing sensors in the soil and on the trees, farmers can monitor soil moisture levels and adjust irrigation accordingly. AI algorithms can analyze the data collected by these sensors and recommend when and how much water to apply. This can help reduce water waste and increase water use efficiency, particularly in areas with limited water resources. Another potential benefit is the reduction of pesticides and fungicides. IoT devices, such as drones equipped with cameras and sensors. Can detect pest and disease infestations early, allowing farmers to act before the infestation becomes widespread. AI algorithms can also analyze data from these devices to recommend the most effective and least harmful pesticides and fungicides. This can reduce the amount of these toxic chemicals used in date palm cultivation, positively affecting local ecosystems. Using AI and IoT in date palm cultivation can also improve soil health. By monitoring soil bionomics, moisture content, nutrient levels, and other factors, farmers can adjust their fertilization practices to ensure that they provide their trees with the nutrients they need while minimizing excess fertilizer application. This can help reduce soil degradation and improve overall health [31–34]. However, there is a lack of review research and book chapters on the application of AI and IoT in date palm cultivation, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Previous books and research on the application of AI and IoT in agriculture have focused primarily on different crops, with limited attention given to date palm cultivation.

Furthermore, most previous research has been conducted in temperate regions, where farmers face challenges that differ from those in arid regions, such as Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this chapter aims to address these gaps in knowledge by investigating the applications of AI and IoT-based technologies, such as sensors, machine learning algorithms, and data analytics, and their potential benefits and challenges for promoting sustainability and advancing date palm cultivation in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the chapter discusses the challenges that must be addressed to realize the full benefits of using AI and IoT in date palm cultivation. By providing insight into the modern developments and future trends for AI and IoT in date palm cultivation,

the chapter provides valuable information for researchers and policymakers interested in using these technologies in arid regions.

The rest of the chapter is structured as follows: First, we introduce the importance and challenges of date palm cultivation in Section 2, Section 3 describes AI and IoT technologies, Section 4 provides an overview of applications of AI and IoT in agriculture, Section 5 details benefits and application of AI and IoT in date palm cultivation, Section 6 indicates the challenges of implementing ai and AI and IoT in date palm cultivation, Section 7 suggests future opportunities for AI and IoT in date palm cultivation, and Section 8 concludes the work.

## **2. Importance and challenges of date palm cultivation**

Date palm is commonly grown in arid- and semiarid regions of the world on 1.31 million hectares and produces 9.82 million tons of fruit yearly. In Saudi Arabia, date palm is a major fruit crop in dry regions of North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, which provides food, nutrition, and building materials to the inhabitants and other byproducts. More than 120 million date palm trees are worldwide, and more than 84 million trees are grown in the Arab world (Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates). Arab countries have 70% of the world's date palm trees, contributing 67% of global production. More than 23 million date palm trees are grown in Saudi Arabia on 152,734 hectares of land, which yield 1.57 million tons of dates annually [35–38].

The cultivation of date palms in Saudi Arabia is significant for several reasons, including its economic importance. The date palm industry is labor-intensive and helps both males and females by generating revenue and jobs. Due to increased employment prospects in rural areas, widespread migration to cities is lessened. Women have a significant role, especially during the palm propagation stages (using *in vitro* or conventional methods) and postharvest stages, including packaging and marketing. Date production and trading help local economies and serve as a source of revenue for farmers and exporters. Over the past few decades, Saudi Arabia's agricultural sector, particularly the date palm sector, has experienced tremendous growth and support [39–43].

Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, and Tunisia, rely substantially on the export of dates. In 2021, Saudi Arabia was the leading global exporter of fresh or dried dates, with an export value of about 322.84 million USD [44]. However, the production and profitability of Saudi Arabia's date palm producers are constrained by several challenges. These challenges include water scarcity due to the depletion of groundwater, soil degradation by salinization, soil erosion, and desertification due to the loss of vegetation cover by overgrazing and overharvesting of wood for fuel, insect pest infestations, disease, an insufficient number of processing and packaging facilities and technologies, environmental pollution, and a decline in consumer demand for date fruit [29, 38, 45–47].

In Saudi Arabia, water scarcity is one of the biggest challenges that date palm producers face. The country's freshwater reservoirs are scarce, and most water sources are saline. As a result of the country's limited water resources, the agricultural sector consumes ca. 90% of the water. Due to the substantial water requirements of date palms, farmers have experienced decreased yields and elevated production costs. Extended droughts are common in the country, limiting the amount of water used for agriculture. In addition, because of urbanization and population growth, there is an

#### *Applications of AI and IoT for Advancing Date Palm Cultivation in Saudi Arabia DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.113175*

increase in water consumption, creating competition for the limited supply of water resources. Farmers of date palms who rely on irrigation to sustain their crops are under strain because of this situation.

Additionally, date palm farmers lack effective irrigation systems, such as drip and subsurface irrigation systems. Many farmers employ ineffective traditional flood irrigation systems that cause significant water losses through evaporation and runoff. The farmers of date palms who use this method also contribute to soil salinization, worsening the irrigation water shortage. To address this problem, date palm farmers use desalinated seawater for irrigation, which is costly and unavailable to all farmers. The Saudi government has significantly invested in irrigation systems and technologies to encourage effective water use in agriculture to address this issue [48–50].

Desertification and soil erosion are further threats to the sustainability of date palm production. The process of topsoil being removed by wind or water and leaving unusable land that cannot support plant growth is called soil erosion. On the other hand, desertification refers to degrading formerly productive land into desert-like conditions because of natural or human-caused factors such as excessive grazing, deforestation, and unsustainable farming methods. In Saudi Arabia, several causes, such as climate change, excessive groundwater use, and unsustainable farming methods, have contributed to the deterioration of soil health and desertification. The country is especially prone to these issues because of its arid climate and constrained water supplies [51–57].

Another challenge date palm farmers face in Saudi Arabia is the prevalence of pests and diseases. Date palms are susceptible to various pests, including red palm weevils, long horn borer, dust mites, fruit flies, scale insects, and fungal diseases. The red palm weevil is an invasive species that infects young and mature palm trees, damaging their vascular system. The weevil larvae bore into the tree trunk, feeding on the soft tissues and creating tunnels that damage the tree structure. The leaves of infested trees display wilting and yellowing symptoms, resulting in death [58–66].

Postharvest losses are estimated to be around 10% in Saudi Arabia, where date palm farming is an important industry. Limited postharvest facilities in the country are one of the key reasons for these losses. Postharvest facilities are essential for the proper storage, processing, and packaging of dates. They help prevent spoilage, minimize losses, and maintain the fruit's quality. However, due to various issues such as high costs, lack of knowledge, and inadequate infrastructure, many date palm farmers in Saudi Arabia do not have access to these facilities [67–71].

Another issue Saudi Arabian date palm growers deal with is a skilled manpower shortage. Many date palm farmers rely on skilled migrant labor during harvest and perform different cultural practices such as pollination, pruning, fertilization, irrigation, chemical application, etc. However, changes in immigration policies and geopolitical strains have made it difficult for farmers to access skilled labor when needed. This has resulted in labor shortages during critical periods, which can lead to reduced yields and financial losses for farmers. As a result, skilled labor shortages during critical periods reduced production and financial losses for farmers [72, 73].
