Development of a crop knowledge base for Europe

• Published in: European journal of agronomy Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 187 - 206
• Main Authors: Russell, G, Muetzelfeldt, R.I, Taylor, K, Terres, J.-M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.1999; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; BANQUE DE DONNEES; BASES DE DATOS; Biological and medical sciences; Biometrics, statistics, experimental designs, modeling, agricultural computer applications; COMPUTER SOFTWARE; computer techniques; CROP YIELD; crops; decision making; EUROPA; EUROPE; FENOLOGIA; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Biometrics, experimentation. Remote sensing; geographical variation; knowledge; Knowledge base; KNOWLEDGE BASED SYSTEMS; LOGICIEL; meteorological parameters; MODELE; MODELOS; PHENOLOGIE; PHENOLOGY; PREVISION DE RENDEMENT; PROGRAMAS DE ORDENADOR; PRONOSTICO DEL RENDIMIENTO; RENDEMENT DES CULTURES; RENDIMIENTO DE CULTIVOS; simulation models; SISTEMAS INTELIGENTES; SYSTEME BASE SUR LA CONNAISSANCE; YIELD FORECASTING; Europe; Database; Model; Knowledge base; Yield forecasting; Phenology; Inference motor; User interface; European Union; Yield; Hierarchical system; Modeling; Computer aid; Cereal crop; Phenological stage
• ISSN: 1161-0301; 1873-7331
• DOI: 10.1016/S1161-0301(99)00030-1

This paper describes the development of a Crop Knowledge Base System for use in crop modelling and yield forecasting. The inherent limitations of databases can cause problems for dealing effectively with geo-referenced data sets. The system described here includes all the normal database operations but also handles richer types of data. Values of queried attributes can be deduced through the use of heritability within hierarchies and by the application of rules that summarise sets of empirical observations. The system is able to reason about similar locations, so that where no information exists in the knowledge base for a particular location, then an alternative location, subject to similar meteorological and agricultural conditions, will be sought.