Advances in gas sensors and electronic nose technologies for agricultural cycle applications

Agricultural cycle is the annual cycle of activities for planting and harvesting. The global warming and climate change currently cause serious impacts on the agricultural cycle leading to reduced crop quantity and quality. In the past decade, the gas sensors and electronic nose (E-nose) technologies have shown great promise and utility in monitoring and prediction of important parameters related to the growth and harvest of a crop. This review summarizes overall the evolution of utilizing gas sensors and E-nose technologies for guideline of agricultural best management practices including applications on cultivation preparation, crop production, harvesting and storage of crops. Advantages and limitations of these technologies in agricultural applications are reviewed to highlight potential research directions.