Decision Support System for Precision Farming

Abstract

As agriculture becomes more intensive, the demand for a higher level of control of the environment in which the plants grow increases. This control ranges from better strategies of soil management to “closed” environments, where most, if not all, atmospheric and soil variables can be adjusted. Based on this premise, plant growth and development models should be elaborated to supply a basis for planning and managing crop production. Crop modeling can also be useful as a means to help the scientist define research priorities. Using a model to estimate the importance and the effect of certain parameters, a researcher can observe which factors should be more studied in future research, thus increasing the understanding of the system. The model has also the potential of helping to understand the basic interactions in the soil–plant–atmosphere system. In this chapter, the reader can find a description of different crop simulation models, their types, and application in precision agriculture.