Methsense – A Data Driven IoT Based Decision Support & Crop Monitoring Platform for Menthol

Abstract Mentha arvensis (menthol mint) is a high-value aromatic crop central to the agricultural economy of the Barabanki-Lucknow belt of Uttar Pradesh, yet its productivity remains constrained by traditional cultivation practices, limited technological adoption, and climate-driven uncertainties. This review synthesizes research advancements from 2021 to 2025, spanning agronomy, remote sensing, IoT-based monitoring, machine learning, digital advisory systems, and policy frameworks. Studies on AI-enabled irrigation, multimodal sensing, spectral vegetation indices, and improved cultivars highlight substantial opportunities for precision-driven interventions in mentha farming. IoT systems, solar-powered sensor networks, edge computing models, and predictive analytics demonstrate their potential to enhance irrigation scheduling, nutrient management, stress detection, and real-time decision support. Economic analyses and policy reports further emphasize mentha’s profitability and its suitability for technology-led transformation. By integrating insights from agriculture, computer science, and rural development, this review presents a unified understanding of digital and scientific innovations relevant to Mentha arvensis and identifies future directions for building scalable, farmer-centric smart farming ecosystems such as MentholGrow. Keywords Mentha arvensis; Menthol mint; Smart Agriculture; IoT-based monitoring; Machine Learning; Remote sensing; Precision farming; Edge computing; Decision-support systems; Aromatic crops; Digital agriculture; Uttar Pradesh; Barabanki-Lucknow belt.