The promise of low-cost Metal-Oxide semiconductor gas sensors for precision agriculture

Authors: AHMAD, ALI - Pennsylvania State University; SENDRA, SANDRA - Valencia Polytechnic University (UPV); LLORET, JAIME - Valencia Polytechnic University (UPV); Bai, Jinhe; Rosskopf, Erin; DI GIOIA, FRANCESCO - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Advanced Sensor Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2025
Publication Date: 3/2/2026
Citation: Ahmad, A., Sendra, S., Lloret, J., Bai, J., Rosskopf, E.N., Di Gioia, F. The promise of low-cost Metal-Oxide semiconductor gas sensors for precision agriculture. Advanced Sensor Research. 5:e00112. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202500112.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202500112

Interpretive Summary: In an era where sustainable agricultural practices are no longer optional but essential, precision crop management stands as a critical pillar for enhancing yield while conserving resources. The agricultural sector has begun to integrate analytic tools that are automated and sensor-driven. One area of importance for the application of sensor technology is in monitoring gases associated with crop production. Despite their vast potential, the adoption of gas sensors in agriculture remains limited due to high initial costs, inadequate training in sensor applications, complex data management requirements, and uncertain return on investment. This study aims to evaluate the possibilities of cost-effective and accessible gas sensors, which hold promise in reducing waste, boosting crop yield, and enhancing the efficiency of production systems. Furthermore, the study critically examines current limitations associated with metal oxide semiconductor sensors, such as challenges in quantitative volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis, high operational temperatures and power demands, and issues with selectivity, durability, and signal consistency, followed by their potential solutions and future research needs. By advancing our understanding of plant physiology through refined sensor technologies these could serve as a cornerstone for more sustainable, resource-efficient agricultural practices. As research and development continue to enhance these sensors, their scope of application will likely broaden, ushering in an era of precision agriculture that aligns with both environmental management and technological sophistication.

Technical Abstract: In an era where sustainable agricultural practices are no longer optional but essential, precision crop management stands as a critical pillar for enhancing yield while conserving resources. The agricultural sector, increasingly driven by technological advancements, has begun to integrate gas sensors—particularly, metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors—as foundational tools for data-centric monitoring and decision-making. Despite their vast potential, the adoption of gas sensors in agriculture remains limited due to high initial costs, inadequate training in sensor applications, complex data management requirements, and uncertain return on investment. This study aims to underscore the transformative possibilities of cost-effective and accessible MOS gas sensors, which hold promise in reducing waste, boosting crop yield, and enhancing the efficiency of production systems. Furthermore, the study critically examines current limitations associated with MOS sensors, such as challenges in quantitative Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) analysis, high operational temperatures and power demands, and issues with selectivity, durability, and signal consistency, followed by their potential solutions and future research needs. By advancing our understanding of plant physiology through refined sensor technologies, MOS gas sensors could serve as a cornerstone for more sustainable, resource-efficient agricultural practices. As research and development continue to enhance these sensors, their scope of application will likely broaden, ushering in an era of precision agriculture that aligns with both environmental management and technological sophistication.