EXPERT SYSTEMS IN AGRICULTURE

Wang, Y. B. and Mack, T. P., Expert systems in agriculture.An expert system is a computer program that simulates the reasoning of a human expert. This paper discusses the definition, elements, and common characteristics of expert systems. It details the steps used in building a small expert system and the implementation of an expert system.Expert systems mimic human capabilities in solving a wide variety of problems in agriculture. There are many agricultural applications for expcrt systems programming, such as agricultural planning, diagnostics, and management, etc. Some expert systems are detailed. COMAX is the first successful example for using expert systems technology in agricultural integrated crop management. Pest management is an important field for expert systems. A small expert system in forestry pest management named PREDICT and expert systems techniques for to insect pest alfalfa management are also described. In addition, an expert system applied to grain marketing analysis is detailed.