WiForAgri DSS SOIL-WORKABILITY is a data-driven service for smart agriculture. It is a suite of DSS tools offered to customers as SaaS; it can integrate its own IoT WSN and/or third-part sensors and weather data. The proposed DSS is able to predict both soil trafficability (the ability of the soil to support and withstand a tractor traffic load) and soil workability (mainly the ability to properly plow the soil). The DSS is so able to suggest and predict if/when:
- is possible to enter a field with a tractor without causing soil compaction;
- is possible to plow without causing the formation of coarse fragments or clods aggregates – depauperation of soil structure;
- is possible but not recommended to perform phytosanitary treatments and fertilization because of present and next-future soil and crop critical conditions.
Benefits for farmers achieved by WiForAgri DSS SOIL-WORKABILITY:
- reduction of time and fuel;
- minimize soil compaction;
- avoid coarse fragments or clods aggregates;
- increase in the life time of machinery and reducing maintenance costs;
- improving efficiency of pesticide and nutrient application;
- reduction environmental impact (Co2, useless spraying because of washout, deep drainage of nutrients).
All DSS functionalities are allowed by a set of agronomic and mathematics sub-models, implemented by WiForAgri web-services, which together are able to model the soil humidity taking into account all the following parameters: soil type; crop type and stage; min, max and avg daily temperature, average daily wind speed, soil moisture, minimum daily relative humidity, total daily rainfall, eventual irrigation events.
The proposed DSS integrates 3 different approaches focused on soil humidity monitoring: measurement, estimation, predict. The proposed WiForAgri DSS is composed of a set of 4 data-driven simulation models (soil water-balance, soil humidity, trafficability and workability, advanced workability) that work together to turn input data into operative indications and tangible value for farmers.
