Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture

Small-scale farmers in the southeastern United States face increasing challenges in sustaining forage production due to erratic rainfall, poor soils, and limited access to precision agricultural tools. These constraints demand site-specific solutions that integrate climate resilience with sustainabl...

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Main Authors: Sudhanshu S. Panda, Aftab Siddique, Thomas H. Terrill, Ajit K. Mahapatra, Eric Morgan, Andres A. Pech-Cervantes, Jan A. van Wyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1520163/full
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author Sudhanshu S. Panda
Aftab Siddique
Thomas H. Terrill
Ajit K. Mahapatra
Eric Morgan
Andres A. Pech-Cervantes
Jan A. van Wyk
author_facet Sudhanshu S. Panda
Aftab Siddique
Thomas H. Terrill
Ajit K. Mahapatra
Eric Morgan
Andres A. Pech-Cervantes
Jan A. van Wyk
author_sort Sudhanshu S. Panda
collection DOAJ
description Small-scale farmers in the southeastern United States face increasing challenges in sustaining forage production due to erratic rainfall, poor soils, and limited access to precision agricultural tools. These constraints demand site-specific solutions that integrate climate resilience with sustainable land use. This study introduces a pioneering Site-Specific Fodder Management Decision Support System (SSFM-DSS) designed to optimize the cultivation of Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), a drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing legume well-suited for marginal lands. By integrating high-resolution geospatial technologies—Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and remote sensing—with empirical field data and predictive modeling, we have developed an automated suitability framework for SL cultivation across Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The model incorporates multi-criteria environmental parameters, including soil characteristics, topography, and climate variability, to generate spatially explicit recommendations. To translate these insights into actionable strategies, we also developed a farmer-focused WebGIS Dashboard that delivers real-time, location-based guidance for SL production. Our findings underscore the significant potential of SSFM-DSS to enhance fodder availability, improve system resilience under climate stress, and promote sustainable livestock production. This integrative approach offers a promising pathway for climate-smart agriculture, supporting broader food security objectives in vulnerable agroecosystems.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-608c08e9b0374b628b6cff66bfc2f8282025-08-20T03:30:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-07-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15201631520163Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agricultureSudhanshu S. Panda0Aftab Siddique1Thomas H. Terrill2Ajit K. Mahapatra3Eric Morgan4Andres A. Pech-Cervantes5Jan A. van Wyk6Institute for Environmental Spatial Analysis, University of North Georgia, Oakwood, GA, United StatesDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, United StatesDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, United StatesDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, United StatesInstitute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University, Belfast, United KingdomInternational Goat Research Center, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Prairie View A&M University, Texas, TX, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South AfricaSmall-scale farmers in the southeastern United States face increasing challenges in sustaining forage production due to erratic rainfall, poor soils, and limited access to precision agricultural tools. These constraints demand site-specific solutions that integrate climate resilience with sustainable land use. This study introduces a pioneering Site-Specific Fodder Management Decision Support System (SSFM-DSS) designed to optimize the cultivation of Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), a drought-tolerant, nitrogen-fixing legume well-suited for marginal lands. By integrating high-resolution geospatial technologies—Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and remote sensing—with empirical field data and predictive modeling, we have developed an automated suitability framework for SL cultivation across Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The model incorporates multi-criteria environmental parameters, including soil characteristics, topography, and climate variability, to generate spatially explicit recommendations. To translate these insights into actionable strategies, we also developed a farmer-focused WebGIS Dashboard that delivers real-time, location-based guidance for SL production. Our findings underscore the significant potential of SSFM-DSS to enhance fodder availability, improve system resilience under climate stress, and promote sustainable livestock production. This integrative approach offers a promising pathway for climate-smart agriculture, supporting broader food security objectives in vulnerable agroecosystems.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1520163/fullsite-specific fodder managementsericea lespedezageographic information systemsremote sensingprecision agriculture
spellingShingle Sudhanshu S. Panda
Aftab Siddique
Thomas H. Terrill
Ajit K. Mahapatra
Eric Morgan
Andres A. Pech-Cervantes
Jan A. van Wyk
Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
Frontiers in Plant Science
site-specific fodder management
sericea lespedeza
geographic information systems
remote sensing
precision agriculture
title Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
title_full Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
title_fullStr Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
title_full_unstemmed Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
title_short Decision support system for Lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation: a WebGIS dashboard approach to precision agriculture
title_sort decision support system for lespedeza cuneata production and quality evaluation a webgis dashboard approach to precision agriculture
topic site-specific fodder management
sericea lespedeza
geographic information systems
remote sensing
precision agriculture
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1520163/full
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