Articles
THE USE OF MODELS TO OPTIMISE PRODUCTION OF FIELD VEGETABLE CROPS WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Article number
654_8
Pages
81 – 88
Language
English
Abstract
Over the last decade, many computer models have been developed to aid both understanding and provide decision support for management of field vegetable crops.
One of these models WELL_N has provided advice on nitrogen requirements since its release in 1994. WELL_N has received regular press exposure and has been included specifically in protocols for good agricultural practice.
It was based on a research model, developed at HRI Wellesbourne, which aided understanding of the cycling of nutrients between crop, soil and the environment.
It has been used to evaluate the performance of varying management strategies on nitrogen leaching from field vegetable crops in the UK, which is being extended to other parts of Europe via the EU funded EU-Rotate_N project.
Whilst the development of models can be an intellectually satisfying occupation their use by the industry can often be disappointing.
The development of the model is but a small part of the process, barriers to use are many and varied.
The industry will need to be persuaded that use of the model will provide a benefit, this can come from both optimised inputs and operational costs, but might also be delivered as evidence of following environmentally sound practices.
Models should be ‘fit for purpose’, easy to operate, fit in with other business operations and provide suitably reliable recommendations.
Models can be delivered over the internet, but there are advantages and disadvantages in this.
The biggest advantage is that they can more easily be kept up to date, the disadvantage being that they rely on potential users, farmers, in rural areas having good access to the internet.
In the future, will we have automated systems that provide farm managers with advance warning of the risk of pest disease and nutritional problems? Such systems could be integrated with work planning and purchasing software to provide field history records and demonstrate evidence of environmentally sound practices.
One of these models WELL_N has provided advice on nitrogen requirements since its release in 1994. WELL_N has received regular press exposure and has been included specifically in protocols for good agricultural practice.
It was based on a research model, developed at HRI Wellesbourne, which aided understanding of the cycling of nutrients between crop, soil and the environment.
It has been used to evaluate the performance of varying management strategies on nitrogen leaching from field vegetable crops in the UK, which is being extended to other parts of Europe via the EU funded EU-Rotate_N project.
Whilst the development of models can be an intellectually satisfying occupation their use by the industry can often be disappointing.
The development of the model is but a small part of the process, barriers to use are many and varied.
The industry will need to be persuaded that use of the model will provide a benefit, this can come from both optimised inputs and operational costs, but might also be delivered as evidence of following environmentally sound practices.
Models should be ‘fit for purpose’, easy to operate, fit in with other business operations and provide suitably reliable recommendations.
Models can be delivered over the internet, but there are advantages and disadvantages in this.
The biggest advantage is that they can more easily be kept up to date, the disadvantage being that they rely on potential users, farmers, in rural areas having good access to the internet.
In the future, will we have automated systems that provide farm managers with advance warning of the risk of pest disease and nutritional problems? Such systems could be integrated with work planning and purchasing software to provide field history records and demonstrate evidence of environmentally sound practices.
Publication
Authors
C.R. Rahn
Keywords
Nitrogen, Models, Environment, Development, Testing, Value Chain
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