Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 218-227 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 223 efficiency is improved (Bacenetti et al., 2020; Jovarauskas et al., 2021). These effects are mainly due to the more precise application of fertilizers, which is no longer randomly spread, thus reducing the problem of overapplication and fertilizer loss with water (Núñez-Cárdenas et al., 2022; Medel-Jiménez et al., 2023). 7.2 Economic benefits for farmers from quality premium pricing Precision fertilization not only helps farmers save money on fertilizer, but also improves crop quality and makes it easier for farmers to enter the high-end market. Economic data show that even if fertilizer use does not increase or even decreases, precision fertilization can increase yields by about 14% and profit margins by 6% or more (Kjærsgaard et al., 2022; Romano et al., 2024). Changes such as more uniform fruit size and a more ideal sugar-acid ratio will make the product sell better and the unit price higher, and the farmer's total income will naturally increase (Saikinov et al., 2024). In addition, because inputs are reduced and efficiency is improved, farmers' overall income is more stable and sustainable (Loures et al., 2020; Bahmutsky et al., 2024). 7.3 Contribution to sustainable orchard management practices Precision fertilization is an important method for orchards to achieve sustainable development. It can help maintain soil health, reduce environmental pollution, and save resources through efficient monitoring tools, data analysis systems, and localized measures (Finger et al., 2019). This practice is also consistent with the sustainable development goals advocated by everyone now. It can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save water and fertilizer, but also ensure that the yield does not decrease, and even improve the quality of crops (Bhakta et al., 2019). In addition, combining digital technology and data management can also make orchards more adaptable to climate change or extreme weather (Xing and Wang, 2024). 8 Challenges and Future Directions 8.1 Limitations in current adoption of precision technologies among smallholders Many smallholder farmers are still unable to use precision fertilization technology, mainly because of many practical difficulties. These difficulties include not being able to use digital tools, not being able to afford new equipment, not knowing how to operate the system, and problems such as inaccurate data or lack of supporting infrastructure. Smallholder farmers have few resources and insufficient technical support, so they find it difficult to truly use advanced methods such as sensors, variable fertilization, and data management (Xing and Wang, 2024; Fue et al., 2025). In order for this technology to be truly popularized, these economic, technical, and basic conditions must be resolved so that more people can afford and use it. 8.2 Need for region-specific fertilization models and calibration datasets Because the soil environment varies from place to place, and the needs of crops in different regions are also different, it is necessary to establish fertilization models and data standards that are more in line with local conditions. Some current precision fertilization systems often find it difficult to cope with the complex changes in the agricultural environment. Without local adjustments, the fertilization recommendations given by the system may not be very accurate. For these technologies to really work, more accurate local data must be available, and local soil, weather, and crop characteristics must be taken into account. To improve the accuracy and reliability of the technology, the key is to combine advanced sensing technology with local data on the basis of formulating unified indicators (Radočaj et al., 2022; Silva et al., 2024). 8.3 Future research priorities in nutrient signaling and quality trait expression Future research directions can focus more on studying how crops receive and process nutrient signals, and how these signals affect fruit quality. Current smart sensors, machine learning, and new materials have provided some tools that allow us to more accurately monitor and control nutrient supply, but further research is needed to link these nutrient changes with quality changes in crops such as bayberry. If changes in soil microorganisms, biochemical indicators, and real-time monitoring technology can be combined, yields and fruit quality can be better improved. To promote the in-depth development of this type of technology, it is not enough to rely on one field. It requires cooperation among multiple disciplines to make new breakthroughs in scientific research and practical applications of precision fertilization, and truly achieve high-quality and sustainable fruit production (Yao and Ye, 2025).
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