Internet-based Information System for Agricultural Weather and Disease and Insect fast management for rice growers in Gyeonggi-do, Korea

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services has developed a web-site (www.epilove.com) in collaboration with EPINET to provide information on agricultural weather and rice disease and insect pest management in Gyeonggi-do. Weather information includes near real-time weather data monitored by automated weather stations (AWS) installed at rice paddy fields of 11 Agricultural Technology Centers (ATC) in Gyeonggi-do, and weekly weather forecast by Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Map images of hourly air temperature and rainfall are also generated at 309m x 309m resolution using hourly data obtained from AWS installed at 191 locations by KMA. Based on near real-time weather data from 11 ATC, hourly infection risks of rice blast, sheath blight, and bacterial grain rot for individual districts are estimated by disease forecasting models, BLAST, SHBLIGHT, and GRAINROT. Users can diagnose various diseases and insects of rice and find their information in detail by browsing thumbnail images of them. A database on agrochemicals is linked to the system for disease and insect diagnosis to help users search for appropriate agrochemicals to control diseases and insect pests.