An integrated wheat crop management system based on generic task knowledge based systems and CERES numerical simulation

We discuss the development of an integrated problem solving architecture to capture all relevant aspects of a crop management system within one working computer program. Specifically we discuss the development of an expert system to support the management of irrigated wheat in Egypt on a regional level. Our system will capture local expertise for the management of irrigated wheat production through the integration of expert system technology and one of the premier crop simulation models used in agriculture. The system will address the various facets of management as follows: planting date selection; water utilization and management; pest monitoring, identification, and remediation; disease monitoring, identification, and remediation; and harvest management. The two major methodologies we integrate in our system are the generic task second generation expert systems methodology first developed by Chandrasekaran et al. (1986), and the CERES crop simulation methodology pioneered by Ritchie et al. (1985). The expected contributions of this research lie in two major areas. In agriculture, regional level management of cropping will allow better utilization of crop inputs, particularly water inputs. In knowledge-based systems, the major contributions of this research lie in proof of principle scale-up of a number of current problem solving templates and in the integration of expert system and quantitative simulation technologies