**4. Sustainable agriculture practices**

As a result of long years of practices and scientific studies, several common sustainable agricultural practices have been put forward in **Figure 1**.

### **4.1 Precision chemical application**

It can be defined as a set of methods that include mechanical and biological controls to reduce the use of pesticides and control pest populations [5]. In this method, Variable Rate Application Technologies (VRA) is applied and unlike traditional agriculture, instead of homogeneous input, it is the application of measurement of productivity differences in the field and appropriate input according to the spatial needs resulting from these differences.

#### **4.2 Conservation reserve program (CRP)**

CRP is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In return for a contract with farmers involved in the program, it is an incentive for farmers to make agricultural production that is sensitive to the environment and improves the environmental health and quality [6]. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10–15 years in length. The long-term aim of the program is to restore valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife areas.

**Figure 1.** *Common sustainable agricultural practices [4].*

## **4.3 Terraces**

In particular, in order to make agriculture in high slope areas, it is the name given to the arrangement of the land in the form of steps and supported by walls. Thus agricultural applications are possible in these areas.

#### **4.4 Scouting**

Scouting is the most fundamental act of traveling in crop fields and make observations. The farmer is required to identify how different areas of development change in his land. If there are problems during the growing season, these problems affect the yield at the time of harvest, so the farmer tries to reduce them. If the problems are not noticed or resolved during the growing season, they may limit the yield, thus reducing the revenue generated. Traditional methods include walking in the field and observing plants manually, while methods such as global positioning systems (GPS) and drones (UAVs) help to make a more accurate decision by making fast and reliable measurements with the help of special equipment and precision sensors.

#### **4.5 Cover crops**

Cover plants (alfalfa, vetch, etc.) can be cultivated during off-season periods when the soil is bare and can be grown between the main plant rows. These products prevent soil erosion, renew soil nutrients, keep weeds under control, and protect soil health by reducing the need for herbicides [5].
