VALIDATION OF A MALTING BARLEY WATER AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT EXPERT-SYSTEM

A malting barley expert system developed at Colorado State University was verified and validated. Yield results from plots managed by the ex pert system were compared to yield results from plots managed by a hum an crop expert, It was found that use of the expert system fertilizer recommendations, which were significantly lower than the crop expert r ecommendations, resulted in significant yield reduction in only one ex periment out of three. However, protein content was also significantly lower, which is desired in malting barley. Following the expert syste m irrigation recommendations resulted in fewer irrigations and the sam e yield. In a comparative field study, the expert system was able to g enerate similar recommendations to those of an experienced crop consul tant. It was shown that the expert system produces recommendations tha t are in line with the cognitive model upon which it is based. (C) 199 7 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.