Instant Insights: Decision Support Systems in Agriculture

Dr Oliver Körner is a Senior Scientist and Head of the Department of Next-Generation Horticultural Systems (HORTSYS) at the world-renowned Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Germany. He leads the HORTSYS 2 Research Group and is Acting Head of the PA HORTSYS Research Group. Dr Körner is internationally known for his expertise in the controlled environment cultivation of horticultural crops, particularly modelling plant-environment interactions in protected cultivation.

• Chapter 1 - Developing decision support systems (DSS) for farm soil and crop management: Matt Aitkenhead, The James Hutton Institute, UK; 1 Introduction2 Spatial data and sensor requirements for DSS3 Models and software for DSS4 DSS user interface design, actuators and systems5 Decision support or decision-making?6 What reasons are there for low uptake of DSS?7 What will DSSs of the future look like?8 Summary9 Where to look for further information10 ReferencesChapter 2 - Decision-support systems for pest monitoring and management: B. Sailaja, Ch. Padmavathi, D. Krishnaveni, G. Katti, D. Subrahmanyam, M. S. Prasad, S. Gayatri and S. R. Voleti, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, India; 1 Introduction2 Pest identification3 Pest monitoring4 Pest forecasting5 Integrated pest management (IPM)6 Case studies7 Summary and future trends8 Where to look for further information9 ReferencesChapter 3 - Models, sensors and decision support systems in greenhouse cultivation: Oliver Körner, Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), Germany; 1 Introduction2 Greenhouses as controllable units for decision making3 The decision-making process4 Growers’ decision tools5 Models for decision support6 Case studies7 Future trends and conclusion8 Where to look for further information9 ReferencesChapter 4 - Modelling and decision support systems in precision agriculture: Nicolas Tremblay, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada; 1 Introduction2 Key issues3 Human and social aspects4 Case studies with an emphasis on nitrogen management5 Research options for decision support systems to improve productivity in a precision agriculture framework6 Conclusion7 Future trends8 Where to look for further information9 ReferencesChapter 5 - Developing climate-based decision support systems from agricultural systems models: Clyde W. Fraisse, University of Florida-Gainesville, USA; Norman E. Breuer, Catholic University Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Paraguay; and Victor Cabrera, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; 1 Introduction2 Importance of a participatory approach in DSS development3 Examples of climate-based DSSs for crop and land management4 Examples of climate-based DSSs for pest and disease management5 Examples of climate-based DSSs for livestock (dairy) management6 Lessons learned on the development of climate-based DSSs7 Future trends and conclusion8 Where to look for further information9 References