Remote sensing of irrigation: Research trends and the direction to next-generation agriculture through data-driven scientometric analysis

Monitoring agricultural water usage with remote sensing technology has shown to be an effective strategy for dealing with water security in the digital era. Given the massive research over the last few decades, a scientometric approach is attempted to show an accurate picture and trends in remote sensing of irrigation research. This study retrieved 14,869 documents from the Scopus database related to remote sensing-guided irrigation studies during 2003–2022. This study employs a systematic approach to identify and analyze pertinent literature related to remote sensing of irrigation and highlights the most influential institutions, countries, and journals, as well as the prominent research subjects and trends. The analysis revealed that the research on remote sensing of irrigation had grown exponentially over the last two decades, indicating a growing interest in this field. Further, this study highlighted the contribution of satellite missions, specifically open-access imagery, to the field of irrigation research through the use of high-resolution sensors. This study offers comprehensive insight to researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in precise monitoring and management of irrigation, enabling them to effectively address forthcoming water security challenges.