Ferramenta computacional inteligente aplicada à otimização do uso de recursos hídricos e aumento da receita líquida na agricultura - INTELIAGRI

Abstract

Currently the world population surpassed the 7 billion inhabitants; this implies the increase of food consumption, which mostly comes from agriculture and that demands huge amounts of water. This thesis developed jointly at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina, in the new research field Agromathematic, who works with the application of different mathematical and computational techniques (optimization, differential equations and statistics) in the distribution and proper use of water and soil resources, in the agricultural planning, and construction of models and numerical simulation of agroecological systems for the protection of the environment, having the characteristic of being intrinsically multidisciplinary in achieving their goals. This work aims at developing an intelligent computational tool, named INTELIAGRI applied to optimize the use of water resources and / or other inputs, such as nitrogen, and increased net income in agriculture. The construction of this computational tool is based on the philosophy 'user-friendly' which expands the possibilities for accessibility for users with little experience in computer, to optimize the management of agribusiness, mainly through water savings, minimizing costs and increasing production. The INTELIAGRI uses input data obtained experimentally in research fields and performs complex mathematical processing, making use of two artificial intelligence techniques, more precisely neural networks. These networks have as function learning curves for crop production and genetic algorithms to obtaining the optimal point of these functions, associated with the functions of production cost and reporting results with the highest net revenue that can be obtained for culture with the use of water and / or inputs. This way, the user may choose among the production alternatives available the most efficient in terms of use of productive resources and that meet predetermined the objectives related to water use and / or inputs. The results are reported in a simple and clear form, helping the farmer in decision making, increasing production efficiency and profits. Whereas the administration of agricultural activities requires technical and financial expertise, the purpose of INTELIAGRI, as a product of technological innovation, is to participate in decision-making at the farm level, where the economic analysis and the rational use of available resources (water, fertilizer) are important. It was achieved an increased efficiency in water use, crop productivity and reduced production costs and, consequently, the increase in net revenue.