The agriculture sector is undergoing a technological transformation, driven by the increasing integration of digital innovations such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analysis. These advances are crucial in mitigating the impact of climate change challenges such as water scarcity, especially in agriculture, which is considered the first consumer of water resources. For this reason, Smart agriculture benefits particularly from these technologies to enhance water-smart practices, aiming to improve the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of farming operations with a clear focus on water security and food production enhancement. With the help of IoT devices such as sensors, drones, and automated irrigation systems, farmers can now achieve real-time monitoring and data collection of critical water-related parameters, providing enhanced insights into critical aspects like crop health, soil conditions, and water usage. As part of Agriculture 4.0, these technologies are not only advancing traditional farming practices but also facilitating precision agriculture, essential for a sustainable agroecosystem, particularly within the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus.

Despite growing interest and significant advancements, the adoption of smart agriculture technologies still faces several challenges. There is a notable gap in the integration, standardization, and scalability of IoT solutions, especially for small and medium-sized farms. Issues such as data interoperability, energy and water use efficiency, cybersecurity, cost-effectiveness, socioeconomic and policy aspects are still to be explored. This Research Topic aims to address the significant gaps in integrating IoT technologies for water management in agriculture by exploring challenges related to scalability, interoperability, water use efficiency, and cybersecurity. It seeks articles that detail the development, deployment, and assessment of IoT-driven smart agriculture systems, emphasizing tailored applications that consider economic, environmental, and social factors. The goal is to advance the practical application of agriculture 4.0, targeting water use efficiency and bridging the gap between different stakeholders.

This research topic welcomes interdisciplinary submissions that explore novel technological solutions for water resource management in different agricultural contexts, theoretical models, experimental prototypes, and field case studies. We encourage authors to present work that contributes to the understanding and advancement of agriculture 4.0, mainly smart farming practices related to water management.

The scope of the Research Topic includes, but is not limited to, the following thematic:

• Precision agriculture using IoT and sensor networks
• Decision support systems for water management in smart irrigation
• Alternative water sources used in agriculture
• Water use efficiency for sustainable agriculture
• Remote and proximal sensing for monitoring irrigated fields
• AI and machine learning applications in agriculture
• Data analytics and decision support systems for smart farming and precise irrigation
• Blockchain and secure data management for water-smart agri-IoT
• Case studies on water reuse in different pedoclimatic conditions
• Sustainable and energy-efficient IoT systems in agriculture
• Advances and technologies in soil science for sustainable agriculture
• Plant science, biopharming systems and biotechnology in agriculture
• Water, Soil, Plant and Microbiome Interactions
• Water-Smart Management and Sustainable Horticulture
• Digital twins in agriculture
• Smart water for Agriculture within the WEFE nexus
• Ethical considerations in data ownership, privacy, and algorithmic bias in AI/Machine Learning (ML) applications for water-smart management and precision irrigation in agriculture

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Advanced technologies for water management: targeting sustainable agriculture