Decision support system for agricultural land use and fertilisation optimisation: a case study on barley production in Estonia

Abstract

The success of the decision support systems, developed within GIS with application of different models, depends on the quality of initial data and the models themselves as well as on the possibilities of their linking. The aim of the present study was to analyse the application of different agro-economic models in a computer-based decision support system, developed for optimisation of agricultural land use and fertilisation, on the example of barley production of Kullamaa rural municipality in Estonia. The algorithms used in the agronomical models were obtained from the regression analysis of numerous field experiments. The calculated new agronomical values serve as a basis for the application of economic models. GIS and modelling remain as two separate systems with the capacity for information exchange between them. Profitability of barley cultivation varied in a very broad range in the study area. The optimal fertiliser amounts established for each field allow increasing crop productivity in the region and at the same time preventing environmental pollution due to production intensification. The proposed decision support system can be further supplemented by several agro-economic models and implemented throughout Estonia.

Efficiency of Estonian grain farms in 2000 2004

“…In Estonia, the assessment of the soil quality of arable land is performed on a 100-point scale, an indicator that describes the productivity of soils. The higher value of soil quality is related to higher crop yield (Astover et al 2006b). The FADN database does not include values for soil quality so weighted soil quality of arable fields for a given farm according to rural municipality location was used in dividing the farms.…”

“…This has caused negative selfsufficiency for cereals and endangers the national food supply. The use of fertilisers and other crop production inputs should be optimised according to the pedo-climatic and economic conditions for increasing crop production (Astover et al 2006b). Considering the potential and necessity in Estonia to increase national agricultural self-sufficiency further, the output-oriented farm efficiency analysis will be also valuable.…”