A Systems Analysis Approach to Brown Planthopper Control on Rice in Zhejiang Province, China. III. An Expert System for Making Recommendations
Abstract
(1) An expert system was constructed to help diagnose brown planthopper (BPH) problems in Zhejiang Province, China and determine insecticide recommendations. (2) The information and knowledge used in this expert system was obtained from three sources: (i) the expert opinion of one of the authors (J. A. Cheng); (ii) the results of simulation modelling (Cheng and Holt 1990; Cheng, Norton and Holt 1990); and (iii) information available at a regional level (e.g. weather forecasts and pest forecasts) and field level (e.g. rice variety and transplanting time). (3) The logical structure and knowledge base of the expert system was encoded in a software package (or shell) for use on IBM-compatible machines. (4) Preliminary tests of the expert system indicated that it provided advice on insecticide treatment that was at least as good, if not better than that provided by the rules used by two groups of extension officers. (5) The value of this expert system lies in two areas. First, as a user-friendly manual and training tool, it can improve the recommendations that agricultural advisers make, and provide additional information on BPH and its control. Second, as a means of increasing communication between research and extension staff, the expert system can help in the identification of research, surveillance and monitoring needs.
Citation
Holt, J.; Cheng, J.A.; Norton, G.A. A Systems Analysis Approach to Brown Planthopper Control on Rice in Zhejiang Province, China. III. An Expert System for Making Recommendations. Journal of Applied Ecology (1990) 27 (1) 113-122.