Expert System for Integrated Stress Management in Jute (Corchorus olitorius L. and C. capsularis L.)

Abstract

Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.= tossa jute and C. capsularis L.= white jute) is a traditional crop of nearly 300 years old with annual commercial value and provides livelihood to more than 5 million rural farm-families mostly located in the eastern part of India. A web-based expert system has been developed with the aim of improving decision-making by jute growers and other users. Knowledge was obtained from the literature and experts. The knowledge was then represented in the knowledge base of the expert system in a series of rules and heuristics. The system is a client-server application supported by a data base containing information of two domains-fibre production and seed production. Both the domains contain management information involving diagnosis and treatment to reduce losses due to weeds, diseases, insect-pests (biotic stress) and hydric stress (logging and drought), respectively, responsible for 22, 12.9, 11 and 25% of the total fibre crop loss of 23% annually in India. This integrated stress management is a part of the crop management system for judicious utilization of all components. The system is enhanced by photographs and drawings to assist the user in stress management of jute crop at the farm level. This user-friendly expert system can be helpful as a decision tool for farmers, technicians and policy makers towards early identification of the harmful agents and hydric stresses, their economic management and for education purpose as well.