Figure data.

Power allocation combined with pre-coding techniques is still an emerging field, with many challenges yet to be resolved. This paper contributes to filling this gap by proposing and evaluating hybrid algorithms that integrate pre-coding with low-complexity power allocation techniques for Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-based Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) in smart irrigation systems. The use of linear pre-coding provides an efficient and simple solution to mitigate channel fading. By exploiting the channel’s frequency selectivity, the power allocation algorithms adjust the modulation type and power distribution for each sub-carrier dynamically. As a result, the proposed hybrid algorithms surpass static schemes, offering notable improvements in system performance. These algorithms adjust both the signal constellation size and power distribution based on the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) values observed across the sub-carriers. Additionally, practical considerations like Rate Maximization (RM) are incorporated to provide flexibility for various application needs. Extensive simulations validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in minimizing power consumption and boosting performance in OFDM-based WSNs for smart irrigation. Numerically, the proposed algorithms can reduce the required SNR by up to 18 dB for a target throughput of 400 bits/symbol and outperforming conventional algorithms in terms of throughput, energy efficiency, and network lifetime, with the pre-coded Greedy power allocation (pre-GPA) algorithm delivering up to 98.5% throughput and the longest system lifespan.