4 - Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture

National Workshop-cum-Trainlng on Bloinfonnatlcs and Information Management in Aquaculture
Site Selection of Water Wells
Boulder, Colorado, has used GIs to develop a Wildfire Hazard Identification
and Mitigation System
9.2 GIs Applications in Agriculture
10.1.1 Precision Farming
Precision Farming (PF) which is otherwise known as Site-Specific farming
involves matching resource application and agronomic practices with soil
properties and crop requirements as they vary across a site. PF has three
requirements such as (i) ability to identify each field location, (ii) ability to
capture, interpret and analyze agronomic data at an appropriate scale and
frequency, and (iii) ability to adjust input use and farming practices to maximize
benefits from each field location. Collectively, these actions are referred to as the
"differential" treatment of field variation as opposed to the "uniform" treatment
underlying traditional management systems. The result is an improvement in the
efficiency and environmental impact of crop production systems.
GIs can integrate all types of information and interface with other decision
support tools. It displays analyzed information in maps that allow (a) better
understanding of interactions among yield, fertility, pests, weeds and other
factors, and (b) decision-making based on such spatial relationships. Many types
of GIs software with varying functionality and price are now available. A
comprehensive farm GIs contains base maps such as topography, soil type, N, P,
K and other nutrient levels, soil moisture, pH, etc. ~ ata on crop rotations, tillage,
nutrient and pesticide applications, yields, etc. can also be stored. CIS is useful
to create fertility, weed and pest intensity maps, which can then be used for
making maps that show recommended application rates of nutrients or
pesticides. Variable rate technology in PF is key component which is done for
site specific input management. One of the approach for variable rate technology
is map-based which includes the steps: grid sampling a field, performing
laboratory analyses of the soil samples, generating a site-specific map of the
properties through geostatistical technique in GIs environment and finally this
map is used to control a variable-rate applicator.
10.1.2 Land capability classification
Land capability is an expression of the effect of physical land conditions,
including climate, on the total suitability for use without damage for crops that
require regular tillage, for grazing, for woodland and for wild life in short land
capability is a measure of suitability of land for use without damage. Irrigability
classification is also important in decision making related to land management.
Soil irrigability classification is made on the basis of important soil characteristics
namely soil texture, depth, available water retention capacity, permeability and
alkaline and saline conditions. Land irrigability classification is made taking into
consideration, in addition to soil irrigability class, the quantity and quality of
water drainage requirements, topography, and economic considerations. The
classification for land capability and soil irrigability is commonly done in CIS
using all the land and soil parameters required for mapping.