Chapter 36 - Decision support systems in potato production

Abstract

This chapter describes the decision support systems (DSS) in potato production. DSSs are in use and being successfully deployed. The agro-ecology and the scientific knowledge are only a small part of the development of a successful DSS. DSSs that support tactical decisions that respond to local conditions that are changing will be used for both purposes. A common feature of many tactical DSSs is the need for local daily weather data, and many require some form of monitoring either in the field, such as crop cover, tuber samples, soil moisture and soil mineral nitrogen, or in the surrounding region as in the case of outbreaks of disease such as late blight and pests such as Colorado beetle and aphids. The particular DSSs referred to in this chapter are derived from both commercially and state-funded works and have been included for illustrative purposes only. The selection is not exhaustive nor has any value judgment been placed on their suitability for any particular task. The great majority of DSSs is still based on a relatively simple approach of an underlying deterministic model with a graphical user interface to the end-user. Support for the product is probably the most difficult aspect of such projects, requiring significant resources. A DSS forms part of the management strategy and works best alongside the other sources of information and advice.