Scientists create smartwatch-like plant wearables that let farmers monitor crops in real time, detecting drought, disease and nutrient problems days before plants show visible signs of stress

• The leaf sensor is more of an early warning system showing how the plant is responding in the moment, before visible signs appear,” said Nafize Hossain.
• (Credit: Nafize Hossain)British farmers may soon manage crop conditions using real-time data from advanced plant wearables, similar to how people use smartwatches to monitor sleep, blood oxygen and physical activity.
• Engineers have developed tiny, tattoo-like leaf sensors and stretchable stem bands that catch distress signals days before a crop visibly suffers from a lack of water, disease or nutrient imbalances.