Satellite Data-Derived Real-Time Agricultural
Management Decision Aids
Environmentally-sound agriculture increasingly is
information-driven. Implementation of new management paradigms such
as Integrated Pest Management and Integrated Crop Management requires
ready access, by the manager, to environmental data. Satellite-based
measurements and the Internet provide two key tools for this access.
We are developing management decision aids that derive much of
their power from satellite data, made available quickly after
collection. By assisting agricultural managers in some daily
decisions, pesticide usage is reduced, energy is saved, and potential
water quality impacts of crop production are minimized.
Information products will be made available to decision-makers by
way of the World Wide Web, and/or satellite-based information
transmission systems. A number of products (and almost products) have
found their way to the Wi-Mn Coop. Extension Agric. Weather page.
Three decision aids are in various stages of development:
Estimated Evapotranspiration --Assisting potato
farmers determine how much and when to irrigate, to minimize the
amount of water and fertilizer reaching the groundwater beneath their
crops.
Potato Foliar Disease Prediction --Predicting development of leaf
blight disease on potatoes, allowing the growers to apply fungicide
sprays only when necessary.
Cranberry Frost Prediction --Advising cranberry growers of the
chance of night time frost in their marshes, both early in the day
and as the evening develops.
The tools used to develop these decision aids are data sources and
research models. The primary data sources are estimates of solar
energy at the Earth's surface based on GOES-8 Satellite images and
surface weather observations.
Two computer simulation models are being used in our work:
Mesoscale model of the atmosphere above the United States to provide
one and two day forecasts, and a detailed Plant-environment model to
assist the development of simple surface models that are interfaced
with the mesoscale model to provide site-specific information.
TiSDat is part of a NASA-sponsored program to facilitate access to
satellite data for all potential users. For technical and
administrative background on the program, visit the Public Use of
Remotely Sensed Data (RSD) page. A related site is the Remote Sensing
Public Access Center.
We will be posting our progress regularly. For further
information, contact Bill Bland at the Dept. of Soil Science, Univ.
of Wisconsin-Madison Bill Bland, wlbland@facstaff.wisc.edu
