Development of a prototype expert system for cereal crop protection (particularly for wheat bulb fly)

Abstract

This report describes the development of a prototype knowledge-based system for wheat bulb fly control and considers the feasibility and practical value of further development of this module, and others, in an overall knowledge-based system for cereal crop protection. The work was done by Silwood Centre for Pest Management in association with ADAS.

The initial menu leads to information and advice on septoria, mildew, rusts, eyespot, frit fly, yellow cereal fly and cereal aphids as vectors of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) in the autumn or as direct pests in the summer. These are all based on current ADAS recommendations, as available in leaflets. The wheat bulb fly option is at a much more detailed level. As well as providing both strategic and tactical advice for wheat bulb fly management, the system also provides to differing degrees of complexity and rigour, comparative costings of the various treatments recommended, ecological and biological information, a guide-line to recognising the symptoms of various insect pests, information on cultural practices, and general recommendations for the safe use of insecticides.

The 'BULBFLY' system as described here was developed in 1988. Changing cultivation techniques, and particularly the introduction of set-aside, have had effects on wheat bulb fly biology, and hence on control measures. Recent work is summarised in Research Review No 26.