This collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on decision support systems (DSS) in agriculture. The first chapter provides a review of DSS in agriculture, whilst addressing the key questions surrounding their use for farm soil and crop management. The different aspects of agricultural DSS design, implementation and operation are also discussed. The second chapter assesses the role of DSS for pest monitoring and management through information technology such as, remote sensing, GIS, spectral indices, image-based diagnostics, and phenology-based degree day models. The third chapter discusses the potential of implementing DSS within the growing mechanisation in greenhouses. It examines differences in development and application of deterministic explanatory and data-based models for real-time control and DSS. The fourth chapter explores the key issues associated with deploying DSS in precision agriculture, whilst also considering their human and social aspects. The chapter also considers how future research on DSS can be moulded to improve productivity in a precision agriculture setting. The final chapter outlines the importance of a participatory approach in DSS development, whilst also offering examples of climate-based DSS for crop and land management, pest and disease management, and livestock (dairy) management.

Soil Health Assessment: Technology, Theory and Practice provides up-to-date coverage on the state- of-the-art in soil health assessment, outlining both the technology used in the field and the most effective methods for sample analysis and soil health quantification. Beginning with a review of the links between soil characteristics and soil health, the book outlines laboratory techniques for assessing soil chemistry, organic matter content assessment, soil structural assessment and soil biology indicators. Smartphone technology for soil health indicators, decision support methodologies for land management, and spatial datasets relevant for soil health are also discussed. Drawing on the experience of its expert editors and authors, this book presents a practical guide for soil scientists, environmental scientists, ecologists and all those who would benefit from rapid, innovative soil-assessment technologies and methods in their own work.