HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-03-29, Page 24Page '24....Lueknow ‘Serit1nel9 'Wednesday9 Mara 299 1989
Computer on n -servation 'farmin
A computer program that:has the ability
to solve Iproblems and make recommenda-
tions about soil ',conservation methods is in
• the works for southwestern Ontario.
Scientists at Agrictilttwe Canada's Har-
row research station are developing an "es -
Pert system", a type of artificial in-
telligence, -which can reason out •a problem
and Offer solutions based on information fecl
in by a 'human expert.
"Using this program is just like ,sitting
down and talking to an expert inthe field,"
says knowledge engineer Norinara 'Clarke.
"It will reach a slecision and offer a recom-
mendation -based on, information provided
bythe userandlmowledge already stored in
the database. "
It's hoped that producers will eventually
be able to use the system to !decide on the
most economical and productive conserva-
tion tillage system for their farms.
"Conservation tillage is very site
specific," explains Dr. James Stone, a
specialist in soil ;physics _and the .scientific
authorityontheproject. "Thisprogramvill
.givens a bestguess• on the mostappropriate
tillagesystemton a casesbsseasebasis even
if no experiments have been •done in a par-
ticular area."
To reduce soil -erosion and the accompa-
nying 'water pollution caused by sediment
imdagricultural, chemicals, farmers are be -
ing -enconrsiged to sise conservation tfllage
methods.
Alsoarowers could enysr big cots in their
fuel bills by using conservation tillage.
These systems could save Ontario grain
growersaii estimated -$2& million year in
energy costs ,alone.
The 'expert system" will use facts about
the soil and current -economic conditions to
rate ,each tillage system on factors like net
return, seedbed condition, energy re-
quirements and -environmental costs.
Knowledge in several sliffer,ent areassuch
as tillage practices, fertilization, crop rota-
tion fund weed control will be collected and
programmed into the computer.
It'willbeawexpert:insoilcondltlonsfor 15
counties in southwestern Ontario that are
high in -soybean and -grain cornproduction.
"When the soil erodes it carries absorbed
,agricultural chemicals, substances that
may increase productivity. but are surface
water and groundwater pollutants," Mr.
Clarke explains.
"Rotating ,crops, 'recommended
rates of fertilizer and pesticides, and using
conservationtiliage syrstemsaresomeofthe
best methods we know -to maintain soil pro-
ductivityand Minimizewater pollution."
Mr. Clarke and *Dr. Stone are currently
'working on a prototype of the "expert
system' using all the literature published
on conservation_tiliage in Ontario.
Waging war on iwe
',Isom page 14
with integrated -weed-management
systems totry Unmet these concerns in a
way that is both practical and
economical," Dr. Darwent says.
Weed management bas to -be tailored to
'specific Tegions. For the past two years
'researchers at Beaverlodge lave been In-
volved in larger studies- focusing mild
vats, 'quack grassand peremnat thistles,
:threeafthemosttrmiblesomeweedsinthe
-Peace.Riverregion,of Alberta.
-They are atudying -crop rotation, in -
!chiding legnmeplowslown,asameitoollor
znanagingsweeds 'Thisinvolvesallowmga
4gumecnpsuekas clover sir alfhlfa, to
grow•totheblossomstage thenplowingyie
entire crop into -the soil along withthe im-
mature -weeds. Flowsdown ,plus partial
fallowing can :help build sip :the orgamc
matterinthesoil.Beedingcouldtakerplace
one year, and plowthe next.
.CompetitiveTrops -canals° be effective
4
4.1.,:,;•;::.:.,..., ,
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41,
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in controlling vertainweeds.For :example,
putting barley into arotatiorthelpseimtrol
wild satsaince barleyssmore 'competitive
than -most other cropsgainstthat weed.
Excessive tillsgeranleadto sollerosion
and degradation, butmoderatetfflage has
helpedvantrolperemaalsmedslilletbistle.
• Using some of these methods in corn-
hinatitm, scientists hopeto be able to con-
trol 'weedswIthTntxhLHnhI crop -yield. in
,oneatudsyweeditlikewilikoats4Verereduc-
adasiimchaslOperceit-bpsimply grow-
ingsmditarvestingsperenniallorage crop
-los:three monsecutive -years. LAB a result,
-themeedfortherbicigieswiasTedimed.
Darwent airessesthe goal is -not to
cimipletelyeliminatethenseof herbicides
"Iillat we are looking at is, a system of
weedinanagementwhichincludesthe nse
of herbicides hut inlesser amounts,sibre
efficiently and -with 'reduced Tisk to the
environment."
8N$
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Anybody lose apolar bear? This “peeping" ,,bearsvas spotted in the vicinity of the Com-
munity Centreand Crest Ifaven Apartments. Be .appears to be looking for his owner as
he checks out the occupant behind the window. This could only happen in Lucknow,
, -Tight? (PatLivi'ngstonyboto)
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