A site-specific expert system with supporting equipment for crop management

Many of the contemporary approacher in solving problems in Site Specific Crop Management (SSCM) are based on existing or created zonal maps of filds based on soil types or other charac- teristics. However, it is known that the chemical and physical attributes of soil can change inside these zones and may overlap between zones. A direct method of economically determining these attributes will contribute to the development of SSCM. This concept has drawn significant attention.As a response to this interest an au- tomated system of equipment, handware and software has been de- signed and constructed. This system consists of: - Automated soil sampler with packaging systems. - Automated work station for the analyses of the physical and chemical attributes of the sample including pH, organic matter, particle size, sesquioxides, carbonates and nutrient elements. - An expert system to consider the analytical results combined with data bases of crop models, fertilizers, chemicals, weather, field history, seed characteristics, yield results, economic criteria and other inputs. The system then uses dynamic simulation to forecast requirements of seeds, nutrients and chemicals. - An implementation system to determine the application program for the crop for seeds, nutrients and chemicals. - An automated applicator to carry out the program. The expert is designed to be self instructing. As data on results are accumulated algorithms are modified to improve fore casting availability.