Expert systems for agriculture

Abstract Recent advances in computer technology have been made possible the development of Expert Systems. Expert Systems are special computer software applications that are capable of carrying out reasoning and analysis functions in narrowly defined subject areas at proficiency levels approaching that of a human expert. The prime targets for the development of expert systems applications in agriculture are the narrowly defined subject areas which have experts available for solving problems. All commercial crop production systems in existance today are potential candidates for Expert Systems. These Expert Systems would take the form of integrated crop management decision aids which would encompass irrigation, nutritional problems and fertilization, weed control-cultivation and herbicide application, and insect control and insecticide and/or nematicide application. Additional subject areas of potential are plant pathology, salinity management, crop breeding, animal pathology, and animal herd management. The advantage of Expert Systems is that once developed they can raise the performance of the average worker to the level of an expert.