Emerging Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Technologies, and Applications

1. Introduction

The closing Editorial of this comprehensive special collection presents the journey from this project’s inception to the publication of around five dozen outstanding studies that have been a testament to the dedication, innovation, and collective wisdom of the global agricultural engineering community.

Agricultural engineering plays a vital role in the modernization and revitalization of agriculture [1]. It encompasses various fields such as agricultural production design and management, agricultural mechanization, water/soil engineering, land use optimization, and agricultural resource recycling [1,2]. The scope of agricultural engineering also includes the integration of agricultural engineering technologies, development of agricultural engineering patterns, and the promotion of science and technology innovation in the agricultural sector [2]. Overall, agricultural engineering has a broad scope that encompasses various aspects of agricultural development and innovation, e.g., agricultural greenhouses [3,4,5,6,7,8], agricultural storage systems [9,10,11,12], irrigation and drainage [13,14,15], agricultural energy systems [16,17,18], agricultural fuels [19,20], fam machinery [21,22,23], etc.

Over the past year, the field of agricultural engineering has witnessed remarkable advancements. The published articles in this collection span a broad spectrum, covering themes from precision farming and remote sensing to sustainable practices, robotics, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies. These contributions collectively weave a narrative of progress, highlighting the dynamic nature of agricultural engineering in addressing contemporary challenges.

Agricultural engineering is inherently interdisciplinary, requiring a holistic understanding of engineering and technology for various agricultural applications, as shown in Figure 1. This collection has successfully filled crucial knowledge gaps by delving into diverse areas. The pursuit of knowledge has been relentless, and our contributors have shed light on unexplored facets of soil science, crop management, and post-harvest activities.

2. List of Contributions

In total, 190 manuscripts were submitted for consideration in this Topic Collection, and all of them were subject to rigorous review processes by their respective journals. Just under 31% of the submitted papers were accepted for publication and inclusion in this Topic Collection. The overall scientific contributions to this Topic Collection are listed below:

• Peralta Manjarrez, R.M.; Delgado Martínez, R.; Benavides Mendoza, A.; Juárez Maldonado, A.; Cabrera De la Fuente, M. Calcium, Potassium, and Magnesium Affect the Nutritional Value of Tomato Grafted Fruits Grown in a Nutrient Film Technique System. Agriculture 2023, 13, 2189. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122189.
• Mardiah, M.; Samadhi, T.W.; Wulandari, W.; Aqsha, A.; Situmorang, Y.A.; Indarto, A. Recent Progress on Catalytic of Rosin Esterification Using Different Agents of Reactant. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 2155–2169. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040132.
• Abhiram, G.; Diraj, R.; Eeswaran, R. Optimization of Black Tea Drying Temperature in an Endless Chain Pressure (ECP) Dryer. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1989–1999. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040122
• Linets, G.I.; Bazhenov, A.V.; Malygin, S.V.; Grivennaya, N.V.; Melnikov, S.V.; Goncharov, V.D. Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Remote Determination of the Brewster Angle When Measuring Physicochemical Parameters of Soil. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1893–1908. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040116
• Chaomuang, N.; Nuangjamnong, T.; Rakmae, S. Performance Evaluation of a Wet Medium Made of Mangosteen Peels for a Direct Evaporative Cooling System. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1865–1878. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040114
• Siriani, A.L.R.; Miranda, I.B.d.C.; Mehdizadeh, S.A.; Pereira, D.F. Chicken Tracking and Individual Bird Activity Monitoring Using the BoT-SORT Algorithm. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1677–1693. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040104
• Ghanim, A.A.J.; Anjum, M.N.; Rasool, G.; Saifullah; Irfan, M.; Alyami, M.; Rahman, S.; Niazi, U.M. Analyzing Extreme Temperature Patterns in Subtropical Highlands Climates: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies. Sustainability 2023, 15, 12753. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712753
• Oh, B.-W.; Seo, H.-J.; Seo, I.-H. Ventilation Operating Standard for Improving Internal Environment in Pig House Grafting Working Conditions Using CFD. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1378–1394. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5030086
• Raza, Q.-U.-A.; Bashir, M.A.; Rehim, A.; Geng, Y.; Raza, H.M.A.; Hussain, S.; Ahmad, I.; Wasif, M. Identifying the Role of Biostimulants in Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) Production Compared with Chemical Fertilization. Sustainability 2023, 15, 11851. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511851
• Kaskous, S.; Pfaffl, M.W. Milking Machine Settings and Liner Design Are Important to Improve Milking Efficiency and Lactating Animal Welfare—Technical Note. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1314–1326. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5030083
• Xiao, Y.; Sun, C.; Wang, D.; Li, H.; Guo, W. Analysis of Hotspots in Subsurface Drip Irrigation Research Using CiteSpace. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1463. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071463
• Schmidt, D.; Butturi, M.A.; Sellitto, M.A. Opportunities of Digital Transformation in Post-Harvest Activities: A Single Case Study of an Engineering Solutions Provider. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1226–1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5030078
• Ashraf, H.; Qamar, S.; Riaz, N.; Shamshiri, R.R.; Sultan, M.; Khalid, B.; Ibrahim, S.M.; Imran, M.; Khan, M.U. Spatiotemporal Estimation of Reference Evapotranspiration for Agricultural Applications in Punjab, Pakistan. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1388. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13071388
• Alves, M.d.F.A.; Pandorfi, H.; Montenegro, A.A.d.A.; Silva, R.A.B.d.; Gomes, N.F.; Santana, T.C.; Almeida, G.L.P.d.; Marinho, G.T.B.; Silva, M.V.d.; Silva, W.A.d. Evaluation of Body Surface Temperature in Pigs Using Geostatistics. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 1090–1103. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5020069
• Aon, M.; Aslam, Z.; Hussain, S.; Bashir, M.A.; Shaaban, M.; Masood, S.; Iqbal, S.; Khalid, M.; Rehim, A.; Mosa, W.F.A.; et al. Wheat Straw Biochar Produced at a Low Temperature Enhanced Maize Growth and Yield by Influencing Soil Properties of Typic calciargid. Sustainability 2023, 15, 9488. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129488
• Akinhanmi, F.O.; Ayanda, O.I.; Ahuekwe, E.F.; Dedeke, G.A. Mitigating the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Crop Farming: A Nanotechnological Approach. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1144. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13061144
• Jiang, Y.; Xuan, K.; Gao, C.; Liu, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Deng, H.; Li, X.; Liu, J. Investigating the Potential of Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing for Estimating Soil Water Content in Farmland and Mountainous Areas. Water 2023, 15, 1500. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15081500
• Neethirajan, S. The Significance and Ethics of Digital Livestock Farming. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 488–505. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5010032
• Darvishi, Y.; Hassan-Beygi, S.R.; Massah, J.; Gancarz, M.; Bieszczad, A.; Karami, H. Determining the Influence of a Magnetic Field on the Vibration and Fuel Consumption of a Heavy Diesel Engine. Sustainability 2023, 15, 4088. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054088
• Neupane, J.; Maja, J.M.; Miller, G.; Marshall, M.; Cutulle, M.; Greene, J.; Luo, J.; Barnes, E. The Next Generation of Cotton Defoliation Sprayer. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 441–459. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5010029
• Md-Tahir, H.; Zhang, J.; Zhou, Y.; Sultan, M.; Ahmad, F.; Du, J.; Ullah, A.; Hussain, Z.; Xia, J. Engineering Design, Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis of High Lugs Rigid Driving Wheel, a Traction Device for Conventional Agricultural Wheeled Tractors. Agriculture 2023, 13, 493. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13020493
• Deeken, H.F.; Lengling, A.; Krommweh, M.S.; Büscher, W. Improvement of Piglet Rearing’s Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Using Air-to-Air Heat Exchangers—A Two-Year Case Study. Energies 2023, 16, 1799. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041799
• Holtorf, L.; Titov, I.; Daschner, F.; Gerken, M. UAV-Based Wireless Data Collection from Underground Sensor Nodes for Precision Agriculture. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 338–354. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5010022
• Vahdanjoo, M.; Gislum, R.; Sørensen, C.A.G. Operational, Economic, and Environmental Assessment of an Agricultural Robot in Seeding and Weeding Operations. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 299–324. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5010020
• Wang, S.; Zhao, X.; Liu, W.; Du, J.; Zhao, D.; Yu, Z. Impact-Type Sunflower Yield Sensor Signal Denoising Method Based on CEEMD-WTD. Agriculture 2023, 13, 166. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13010166
• Park, S.H.; Koutsospyros, A.; Moon, D.H. Optimization of a High-Pressure Soil Washing System for Emergency Recovery of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil. Agriculture 2022, 12, 2054. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12122054
• Ismail, M.; Ahmed, E.; Peng, G.; Xu, R.; Sultan, M.; Khan, F.U.; Aleem, M. Evaluating the Impact of Climate Change on the Stream Flow in Soan River Basin (Pakistan). Water 2022, 14, 3695. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14223695
• Xin, Y.; Gao, L.; Hu, W.; Gao, Q.; Yang, B.; Zhou, J.; Xu, C. Genome-Wide Association Study Based on Plant Height and Drought-Tolerance Indices Reveals Two Candidate Drought-Tolerance Genes in Sweet Sorghum. Sustainability 2022, 14, 14339. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114339
• Ma, X.; Gong, Q.; Wang, Q.; Xu, D.; Zhou, Y.; Chen, G.; Cao, X.; Wang, L. Design of an Air Suction Wheel-Hole Single Seed Drill for a Wheat Plot Dibbler. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1735. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101735
• Cui, N.; Pozzobon, V. Food-Grade Cultivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from Potato Waste. AgriEngineering 2022, 4, 951–968. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4040061
• Wu, Y.; Cao, Y.; Zhai, Z. Early Detection of Bacterial Blight in Hyperspectral Images Based on Random Forest and Adaptive Coherence Estimator. Sustainability 2022, 14, 13168. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013168
• Sakar, E.H.; Khtira, A.; Aalam, Z.; Zeroual, A.; Gagour, J.; Gharby, S. Variations in Physicochemical Characteristics of Olive Oil (cv ‘Moroccan Picholine’) According to Extraction Technology as Revealed by Multivariate Analysis. AgriEngineering 2022, 4, 922–938. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4040059
• Nguyen, T.-H.; Nguyen, T.-N.; Ngo, B.-V. A VGG-19 Model with Transfer Learning and Image Segmentation for Classification of Tomato Leaf Disease. AgriEngineering 2022, 4, 871–887. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4040056
• Bilal, M.; Sultan, M.; Majeed, F.; Farooq, M.; Sajjad, U.; Ibrahim, S.M.; Khan, M.U.; Azizi, S.; Javaid, M.Y.; Ahmad, R. Investigating Adsorption-Based Atmospheric Water Harvesting Potential for Pakistan. Sustainability 2022, 14, 12582. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912582
• Mu, G.; Wang, W.; Zhang, T.; Hu, L.; Zheng, W.; Zhang, W. Design and Experiment with a Double-Roller Sweet Potato Vine Harvester. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1559. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12101559
• Chen, W.; Wang, G.; Hu, L.; Yuan, J.; Wu, W.; Bao, G.; Yin, Z. Research on the Control Strategy of Leafy Vegetable Harvester Travel Speed Automatic Control System. AgriEngineering 2022, 4, 801–825. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4040052
• Rasheed, M.W.; Tang, J.; Sarwar, A.; Shah, S.; Saddique, N.; Khan, M.U.; Imran Khan, M.; Nawaz, S.; Shamshiri, R.R.; Aziz, M.; et al. Soil Moisture Measuring Techniques and Factors Affecting the Moisture Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review. Sustainability 2022, 14, 11538. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811538
• Vrochidou, E.; Tsakalidou, V.N.; Kalathas, I.; Gkrimpizis, T.; Pachidis, T.; Kaburlasos, V.G. An Overview of End Effectors in Agricultural Robotic Harvesting Systems. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1240. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081240
• Cheng, S.; Xing, Z.; Tian, C.; Li, S.; Tian, J.; Liu, Q.; Hu, Y.; Guo, B.; Hu, Q.; Wei, H.; et al. Effects of Controlled Release Urea Formula and Conventional Urea Ratio on Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Direct-Seeded Rice. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1230. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12081230
• Rasheed, A.; Lee, J.W.; Kim, H.T.; Lee, H.W. Study on Heating and Cooling Performance of Air-to-Water Heat Pump System for Protected Horticulture. Energies 2022, 15, 5467. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155467
• Grimberg, R.; Teitel, M.; Ozer, S.; Levi, A.; Levy, A. Estimation of Greenhouse Tomato Foliage Temperature Using DNN and ML Models. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1034. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071034
• Mohd Ali, M.; Hashim, N.; Abd Aziz, S.; Lasekan, O. Characterisation of Pineapple Cultivars under Different Storage Conditions Using Infrared Thermal Imaging Coupled with Machine Learning Algorithms. Agriculture 2022, 12, 1013. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071013
• Nadeem, M.U.; Anjum, M.N.; Afzal, A.; Azam, M.; Hussain, F.; Usman, M.; Javaid, M.M.; Mukhtar, M.A.; Majeed, F. Assessment of Multi-Satellite Precipitation Products over the Himalayan Mountains of Pakistan, South Asia. Sustainability 2022, 14, 8490. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148490
• Zakir-Hassan, G.; Punthakey, J.F.; Shabir, G.; Yasmeen, F.; Sultan, M.; Ashraf, H.; Sohoo, I.; Majeed, F. Physicochemical Investigation of Rainfall for Managed Aquifer Recharge in Punjab (Pakistan). Water 2022, 14, 2155. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14142155
• Molaei, F.; Ghatrehsamani, S. Kinematic-Based Multi-Objective Design Optimization of a Grapevine Pruning Robotic Manipulator. AgriEngineering 2022, 4, 606–625. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering4030040
• Wu, K.; Zhang, M.; Wang, G.; Chen, X.; Wu, J. A Continuous Single-Layer Discrete Tiling System for Online Detection of Corn Impurities and Breakage Rates. Agriculture 2022, 12, 948. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12070948
• Zhu, Q.; Zhang, H.; Zhu, Z.; Gao, Y.; Chen, L. Structural Design and Simulation of Pneumatic Conveying Line for a Paddy Side-Deep Fertilisation System. Agriculture 2022, 12, 867. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060867
• Madrid, B.; Zhang, H.; Miles, C.A.; Kraft, M.; Griffin-LaHue, D.; Wasko DeVetter, L. Humic and Acetic Acids Have the Potential to Enhance Deterioration of Select Plastic Soil-Biodegradable Mulches in a Mediterranean Climate. Agriculture 2022, 12, 865. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060865
• Li, B.; Liu, B.; Li, S.; Liu, H. An Improved EfficientNet for Rice Germ Integrity Classification and Recognition. Agriculture 2022, 12, 863. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060863
• Petrakis, T.; Kavga, A.; Thomopoulos, V.; Argiriou, A.A. Neural Network Model for Greenhouse Microclimate Predictions. Agriculture 2022, 12, 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060780
• Wang, H.; Ling, G.; Wang, W.; Hu, X.; Gao, X. A Prediction Model of Labyrinth Emitter Service Duration (ESD) under Low-Quality (Sand-Laden Water) Irrigation. Water 2022, 14, 1690. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14111690
• Cheng, Q.; Wang, J.; Liu, K.; Chao, J.; Liu, D. Design of Rice Straw Fiber Crusher and Evaluation of Fiber Quality. Agriculture 2022, 12, 729. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050729
• Fang, W.; Wang, X.; Han, D.; Chen, X. Review of Material Parameter Calibration Method. Agriculture 2022, 12, 706. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12050706
• Zhou, Y.; Ma, W.; Liu, F.; Wang, J. Simulation and Evaluation of Hydrothermal Conditions in Crop Growth Period: A Case Study of Highland Barley in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sustainability 2022, 14, 5932. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105932
• Lisičar Vukušić, J.; Millenautzki, T.; Barbe, S. Bridging the Implementation Gap between Pomace Waste and Large-Scale Baker’s Yeast Production. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 2238–2252. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040137
• Pereira, J.S.; Magalhães, R.R.; Santos, F.L.; de Andrade, E.T.; Marques, L.S. Modeling of Coffee Fruit: An Approach to Simulate the Effects of Compression. AgriEngineering 2023, 5, 2303–2313. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering5040141
• Monteleone, S.; Alves de Moraes, E.; Protil, R.M.; Tondato de Faria, B.; Maia, F.R. Proposal of a model of irrigation Operations Management for exploring the factors that can affect the adoption of Precision Agriculture in the context of Agriculture 4.0. Agriculture 2024, 14, 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010134.
• Yu, L.; Wang, H.; Ren, A.; Han, F.; Jia, F.; Hou, H.; Liu, Y. The Influencing Factors Analysis of Aquaculture Mechanization Development in Liaoning, China. AgriEngineering 2024, 6, 34–51; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6010003.
• Ajayi-Banji, I.; Monono, E.; Teboh, J.; Yuja, S.; Hellevang, K. Post-Harvest Management of Immature (Green and Semi-Green) Soybeans: Effect of Drying and Storage Conditions (Temperature, Light, and Aeration) on Color and Oil Quality. AgriEngineering 2024, 6, 135–154; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering6010009.

3. Innovative Farm Machinery and Design

• Engineering Design for Tractors: Contribution 21 focused on the engineering design and analysis of a high lugs rigid driving wheel for conventional agricultural tractors. It not only presented technical specifications but discussed the potential for scalability and adoption in diverse agricultural settings. This article extended beyond technical innovation, considering the practical implications of adopting new technologies in farming.
• Advanced Harvester Design: Contribution 35 introduced a double-roller sweet potato vine harvester, not only showcasing its technical advancements but evaluating its energy efficiency and labor requirements. This article extended beyond technological novelty, providing insights into the economic and labor implications of adopting new harvesting technologies.
• Robotic Pruning for Grapevines: Contribution 45 presented a kinematic-based multi-objective design optimization of a grapevine pruning robotic manipulator, and it not only discussed the technical specifications but explored the adaptability of robotic technologies to different grape varieties and vineyard settings. This article contributed to technical innovation as well as to the practical considerations of adopting robotics in viticulture.
• Pneumatic Conveying Line Design: Contribution 47 explored the structural design and simulation of a pneumatic conveying line for a paddy side-deep fertilization system, which not only provided insights into material handling but discussed the potential for automation in paddy cultivation. This article extended beyond structural design, considering the broader implications of adopting automated material handling systems in agriculture.
• Rice Straw Fiber Crusher: Contribution 52 discussed the design of a rice straw fiber crusher and evaluated fiber quality. This not only presented technical specifications but explored the potential applications of rice straw fiber in diverse industries. This article extended beyond equipment design, considering the broader implications of valorizing agricultural residues.

4. Innovations in Crop Management

• Nutritional Enhancement: Contribution 1 explored the intricate relationship between calcium, potassium, and magnesium, revealing their nuanced impact on the nutritional value of grafted tomatoes. This in-depth understanding opens avenues for precise nutrient management in horticultural practices.
• Drought-Tolerance Genes: Contribution 28 presented a groundbreaking genome-wide association study identifying not only candidate drought-tolerance genes in sweet sorghum but also uncovering the complex genetic networks that govern resilience to water stress. This nuanced insight provides a roadmap for targeted breeding programs.
• Precision Agriculture Technologies: Contribution 11 not only identified hotspots in subsurface drip irrigation research but went further to analyze the evolving trends and methodologies within these hotspots. By utilizing advanced techniques such as CiteSpace, this article provides a meta-analysis that informs researchers of the most critical areas for future exploration.
• Energy Efficiency in Pig Farming: Contribution 22 delved into the realm of energy efficiency, offering a detailed two-year case study on improving piglet rearing energy efficiency and sustainability using air-to-air heat exchangers. This comprehensive analysis extends beyond energy savings, exploring the broader implications on animal welfare and farm economics.
• Crop Yield Sensor Technology: Contribution 25 not only introduced an impact-type sunflower yield sensor signal denoising method but also validated its effectiveness through extensive field trials. This article not only contributes a novel technological advancement but also provides practical insights into its real-world application.

5. Technological Solutions

• Precision Agriculture Robotics: Contributions 23 and 24 offered more than a demonstration of potential; they presented a comprehensive analysis of the operational, economic, and environmental implications of UAV-based wireless data collection and agricultural robots in precision farming operations. These findings bridge the gap between technological promise and on-field practicality.
• Innovative Harvesting Techniques: Contribution 46 not only introduced a continuous single-layer discrete tiling system for online detection of corn impurities and breakage rates but also explored the economic implications of adopting this type of technology. This article provides a holistic view, considering both technological and economic aspects of innovation.
• Climate Change Resilience: Contribution 16 addressed the mitigation of COVID-19 impacts on crop farming through nanotechnological approaches, diving deep into the ethical considerations and societal implications of employing nanotechnology in agriculture. These findings extend beyond technical solutions, prompting reflections on the ethical dimensions of agricultural innovation during global crises.
• Adsorption-Based Water Harvesting: Contribution 34 investigated the adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting potential for Pakistan. This article provides a nuanced perspective, considering not only technological feasibility but also its alignment with local socio-economic conditions.
• Digital Livestock Farming: Contribution 18 discussed the significance and ethics of digital livestock farming. It not only examines the technological aspects but also delves into the ethical considerations of employing digital technologies in animal husbandry. These findings contributed to technological discourse as well as broader conversations on ethical practices in agriculture.

6. Sustainability and Climate Resilience

• Multi-Satellite Precipitation Products: Contribution 43 assessed multi-satellite precipitation products over the Himalayan Mountains for sustainable water management. It not only evaluates the technical aspects but also discusses the policy implications of utilizing satellite data for water resource management. This article extends beyond technical validation, contributing to the discourse on policy-relevant applications of remote sensing in agriculture.
• Impact of Climate Change: Contribution 27 evaluated the impact of climate change on stream flow in Soan River Basin (Pakistan), not only providing insights into hydrological changes but also exploring the socio-economic impacts on local communities. This article bridges the gap between climate science and social resilience, offering a holistic understanding of the effects of climate change.
• Humic Acids in Agriculture: Contribution 48 investigated how humic and acetic acids can enhance the deterioration of plastic soil-biodegradable mulches and delved into the long-term environmental implications of their use. This article contributes not only to immediate agricultural practices but also to broader conversations on the sustainability of soil management strategies.
• Greenhouse Microclimate Modeling: Contribution 50 presented a neural network model for greenhouse microclimate predictions. It demonstrated the accuracy of predictions and discussed the interpretability of machine learning models in practical farming scenarios. This article contributes not only to the technical discourse but also to the practical considerations of implementing machine learning in agriculture.
• Precision Irrigation: Contribution 51 developed a prediction model for labyrinth emitter service duration (ESD) under low-quality (sand-laden water) irrigation. It not only provides a technical solution but examines the economic feasibility and practical considerations of adopting precision irrigation in challenging water conditions. The article contributes not only to the technological discourse but also to the practical considerations of precision agriculture.

7. Future Directions and Conclusion

As we celebrate the achievements of this collection, it is imperative to chart the course for future research endeavors in agricultural engineering. Some key areas that demand attention include the following:

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Encourage deeper collaboration between agriculturalists, engineers, data scientists, and environmental scientists to address complex agricultural challenges comprehensively.
• Climate-Resilient Farming: Investigate strategies for enhancing climate resilience in agriculture, considering the unpredictable impacts of climate change on crop yields and water availability.
• Digital Transformation: Explore the full potential of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, in revolutionizing various aspects of agricultural practices.
• Sustainable Precision Farming: Continue the exploration of sustainable precision farming technologies to optimize resource use, reduce environmental impact, and enhance overall agricultural productivity.
• Innovations in Post-Harvest Activities: Focus on developing innovative solutions for post-harvest activities, storage, and transportation to minimize food loss and ensure food security.

In conclusion, the “Emerging Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Technologies, and Applications” collection has been a collaborative endeavor that has pushed the boundaries of knowledge in our field. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all contributors, reviewers, and MDPI for making this venture a success. May the insights gained from this collection propel us toward a future where agricultural engineering continues to be at the forefront of sustainable, efficient, and resilient food production.