AgrometeorologicalAgrometeorological network network and information systems based and information systems based on meteorological on meteorological informationsinformations

in Sloveniain Slovenia

StanislavStanislav GombocGomboc11, , TomaTomažž SeliSelišškarkar22, , VlastaVlasta KnapiKnapičč11, , 11Phytosanitary Phytosanitary AdninistrationAdninistration ofof RepublicRepublic ofof SloveniaSlovenia, , 2 2 BiotechnicalBiotechnical facultyfaculty, , DepartmentDepartment forfor AgronomyAgronomy, Ljubljana, , Ljubljana, SloveniaSlovenia

Organisation of Slovenian Forecasting ServiceOrganisation of Slovenian Forecasting Service

• It is organised on regional level in the main agricultural areas

• It is under the coordination of PhytosanitaryAdministration of the Republic of Slovenia

• Each regional service issues they regional forecasts for their region except which covers the whole country

• Each centre use their one equipment and tools to get the best forecast for his one region (meteorological stations, pheromone traps, observation of disease development and use of computer forecasting models).

• Forecast information's are issued on radio news, telephone answer machines, published news, in prognostic information system, which inform the users about the forecasting information's.

History of agrometeorological observations in plant protection in Slovenia

• Slovenian observation and forecasting service has a long tradition. It was formed in 1956, with the outbreaks of Colorado beetle and some phytophthoras (Plasmopara viticola and Phytophthora inferstans).

• Since then agrometeorological data and field observations are the most important factors by issuing of forecasting informations – warnings.

• Field observations remains until today more or less the same, only the way and precision of collection of agrometeorological data and data evaluation has changed and improved in many ways.

History of agrometeorological observations in plant protection in Slovenia

• At the beginnig classical instruments were used for measuring meteorological factors (Lambrecht).

• Since end of eighties semiautomatic measure devices like Metos and KMS Paar came into use. They had integrated the meteorological instruments and some simple prognostic models, which calculated the infestation thresholds.

• From 1996-1998 Slovenian observation and forecasting service was equipped with Adcon Telemetry weather stations, which were placed in use in most important agricultural areas.

•• Internet connection with personal computersInternet connection with personal computers

•• Answering machinesAnswering machines

•• More than More than 990 automatic 0 automatic AdconAdcon Telemetry meteorological Telemetry meteorological stations stations

•• Prognostic models softwarePrognostic models software

•• Pheromone traps and other baits for pestsPheromone traps and other baits for pests

•• Machines for catching of sporesMachines for catching of spores

•• Cars for crops observations Cars for crops observations

•• Growers network for local pest and disease observationGrowers network for local pest and disease observation

Equipment of Slovenian observation and forecasting service

Placement of Adcon Telemetry weather stations across Slovenia

••81 wheatear stations 81 wheatear stations are in placeare in place

••73 stations are 73 stations are measuring measuring meteorological data meteorological data

• All 73, which are now in place are measuring temperature at 2 m high or in vegetation level

• Precipitation 73 stations• Humidity 73 stations• Leaf wetness 65 stations• Wind speed and wind direction 22 stations• Sun radiation 5 stations

Equipment of Adcon Telemetry weather stations

National and regional centers of observation and forecasting National and regional centers of observation and forecasting service with receivers from service with receivers from AdconAdcon meteorological stationsmeteorological stations

LjubljanaLjubljanaNova Gorica

Novo mesto - Krško

Žalec

Maribor

Data from meteorological measurements are collected and processed at regional level.

MS SQL server for central data storageand data manipulation (internet,

forecasting models)

Central data collectionFrom regional centers data are collected on the main server with 1 hour delay from the time of measurement.

Overview of real time dataOverview of real time data in in applicationapplication FitoPostajeFitoPostaje

• Meteorological data available on internet with one hour delay for each station

• Available summary data for each station• Additional data to position and statistic of

meteorological stations• (Available forecasting models for main

diseases and pests for each station)

Application FitoPostaje for maintenance of agrometeorological data

Description of meteorological station, location, sensors, replacements of sensors, and other data of station maintenance (placement in the season, working period, crop…).

Application FitoPostaje for maintenance of agrometeorological data

Overview - monthly data

Application FitoPostaje for maintenance of agrometeorological data

Statistics of stations efficiencyStatistics of stations efficiency

Application FitoPostaje for maintenance of agrometeorological data

Benefits of central data maintenance• All data are accessible on one place in the same

time: – Wheatear data for the whole country are available for

farmers (spraying factors, harvesting, irrigation…)

– We can analyze and run forecasting or other meteorological models for the whole country on the same time and undertake the decisions for the whole country.

– All data are available for free for all interesting users for other purposes (for the archive of national meteorological measurements, other institutions, students…).

IMPUTSIMPUTS

METEOROLOGICAL DATA

PHENOLOGICAL DATA

FORECASTING MODEL

INSECTS OR DISEASES DEVELOPMENT OBSERVATION

YEARS OF EXPIRIENCE

FORECAST

Process for issuing of forecast information

MAIN DISEASES AND PEST FOR WHICH MAIN DISEASES AND PEST FOR WHICH PROGNOSTIC INFORMATION ARE ISSUPROGNOSTIC INFORMATION ARE ISSUEDED

• Plasmopara viticola• Venturia inaequalis• Phytophthora infestans• Uncinula necator• Pseudoperonospora

cubensis• Pseudoperonospora humuli• Erysiphe graminis• Fusarium sp. on cereals and

maize• Erwinia amylovora• others ...

• Aphididae - aphids• Acarina - mites• Leptinotarsa decemlineata• Oulema melanopus• Cydia pomonella• Cydia molesta• Dacus oleae• Psyllidae on pear• Ostrinia nubilalis• Eupoecilia ambiguella• Lobesia botrana• Rhagoletis cerasi

Public access to agrometeorological data

Public access to forecast and other plant protection informations

Informations available:– Registered plant protection products– Registered plant varieties – Forecast information's– Plant protection related legislation– Organisms names, descriptions, pictures, ...– Important information for plant producers – news– All other information regarded to plant protection...

http://www.fito-info.bf.uni-lj.si

- Phone answer machines

- Newspapers

- Radio stations

- Sending informations by normal post

- Web application for publishing of forecast news (Information's available in real time):

- www

- e-mail

- SMS short mobile phone massages

Distribution of forecasting informations

Forecasting news are published when needed for different Forecasting news are published when needed for different categories:categories:

-- agricultureagriculture-- fruit growingfruit growing-- wine productionwine production-- vegetablesvegetables-- hop growinghop growing-- normal news, meetingsnormal news, meetings-- and some other minor and some other minor categoriescategories

• Forecast and prognostic service in Slovenia has long tradition (from 1954) and is still very important for Slovenian agriculture.

• Meteorological data are very important input for forecast information but not always sufficient (presence of pest, microclimate, phenology...)

• Real time meteorological data are also very useful for farmer (pesticide treatment – temperature, wind, rainfall, tillage...) and also for other public (army, field workers, sportiest, tourists...)

• The best tool for preparation of good forecast information is combination of meteorological data, forecasting models, field observations and experiences of prognostic officers.

• Forecast information has no use if is not properly distributed – in the short time (newspapers, answering machines, internet, mails,SMS)

Conclusions