Assessing the sustainability of cropping systems in single- and multi-site studies. A review of methods

Deytieux, Violaine; Munier‐Jolain, Nicolas; Caneill, Jacques

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2015.10.005

Cited by 52 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 100 publications

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“…Most cropping system experiments were designed to test the feasibility of these systems with a wide range of objectives (e.g., reducing pesticide use or increasing crop diversity while maintain profitability, decreasing impact on soil structure, etc.) without looking at weeds (Deytieux et al, 2012;Giuliano et al, 2016), implemented in single sites or multi-site networks (Deytieux et al, 2016). Few experiments monitored weed floras (Chikowo et al, 2009;Debaeke et al, 2009;Adeux et al, 2017Adeux et al, , 2019aJernigan et al, 2017) and even fewer assessed weed-driven yield loss, for instance by comparing yield in weedy and weed-free (manually weeded) zones (Teasdale and Cavigelli, 2010;Adeux et al, 2017).…”

Section: Cropping System Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, most cropping-system trials and studies demonstrate local feasibility of reconciling reduced herbicide use and reduced crop yield loss but cannot explain causes and thus do not offer advice applicable elsewhere (Deytieux et al, 2016). Moreover, results collected in experimental stations (Deytieux, 2017) can differ from those collected from farms (Lechenet et al, 2017a) because experimenters do not farm as farmers do as they tend to explore extreme alternative strategies without having the economic survival of their farms depending on their success (Deytieux et al, 2012).…”

Section: Cropping System Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

et al. 2020

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The growing recognition of the environmental and health issues associated to pesticide use requires to investigate how to manage weeds with less or no herbicides in arable farming while maintaining crop productivity. The questions of weed harmfulness, herbicide efficacy, the effects of herbicide use on crop yields, and the effect of reducing herbicides on crop production have been addressed over the years but results and interpretations often appear contradictory. In this paper, we critically analyze studies that have focused on the herbicide use, weeds and crop yield nexus. We identified many inconsistencies in the published results and demonstrate that these often stem from differences in the methodologies used and in the choice of the conceptual model that links the three items. Our main findings are: (1) although our review confirms that herbicide reduction increases weed infestation if not compensated by other cultural techniques, there are many shortcomings in the different methods used to assess the impact of weeds on crop production; (2) Reducing herbicide use rarely results in increased crop yield loss due to weeds if farmers compensate low herbicide use by other efficient cultural practices; (3) There is a need for comprehensive studies describing the effect of cropping systems on crop production that explicitly include weeds and disentangle the impact of herbicides from the effect of other practices on weeds and on crop production. We propose a framework that presents all the links and feed-backs that must be considered when analyzing the herbicide-weed-crop yield nexus. We then provide a number of methodological recommendations for future studies. We conclude that, since weeds are causing yield loss, reduced herbicide use and maintained crop productivity necessarily requires a redesign of cropping systems. These new systems should include both agronomic and biodiversity-based levers acting in concert to deliver sustainable weed management.

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Section: Cropping System Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cropping System Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

et al. 2020

Self Cite

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“…Choice of the indicators A set of ten indicators (table1) was selected after an extensive literature review described by Deytieux(2016), Bockstaller et al(2013), Bekhouche-Guendouz (2011), and Yakhelf et al(2008).The aim of the literature review and investigation of the sustainability assessment methods was to select pertinent indicators that quantify the effects of cropping systems management on agro--ecological and on economic profitability, using data that can be easily obtained (through face-to-face interviews).…”

Section: Study Area and Farms Monitoredmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Agro-Ecological and Economic Sustainability of Cereals-Based Cropping Systems in Souk Ahras High Plains (East Algeria)

Latreche¹,

Benidir²,

Elhadi³

et al. 2019

AgricultForest

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The food deficit that has prevailed for more than 50 years in the Algerian agricultural sector, the problem of land depletion due mainly to the regression of organic matter levels in soils generated by cereals fallow system, widely practiced in the Algerian semi-arid zones, and the evolution of the expectations of consumers, multiply to infinity the need to assess cropping systems sustainability. To reach this goal we have integrated 10 agro ecologic and economic indicators values into a global sustainability index (Sg) ranking from 0 to 1, applying continuous non-linear sustainability functions that use thresholds defining what is sustainable, unsustainable, or intermediate. Data needed to calculate the indicators was getting from face to face interview with farmers for 140 fields practicing 6 cereals-based cropping systems (cereal worked and pastured fallow, continues cereal, cereal potatoes, grain legumes or other crops) in Souk Ahras high plains region (east of Algeria).The evaluation results showed that cereal other crops and cereal potatoes systems have a better overall sustainability despite the fact that some of the indicators can be negatively impacted. Cereal worked fallow has the lowest sustainability. The high value of economic indicators; variable cost and gross income explain the first result, poor economic performance, and inadequate soil management make that cereal worked fallow has the lowest sustainability. Cereal grain legumes system is supported by the state as part of the program of resorption of fallow; but it has an intermediate durability, with high agro ecological performances, and moderate economic sustainability due to the lack of mastery of technical itinerary.

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“…There are therefore many examples in the literature that use multi-criteria sustainability assessment of cropping systems based on aggregating indicators (see [16] for a review). Most of the earlier published studies tended to focus on either the plot scale or on the wider landscape [17], but more recent research has addressed the need for cropping system-scale analysis, applicable to individual fields where the systems need to be implemented [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole-Systems Analysis of Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Arable Cropping Systems: A Case Study

et al. 2019

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The long-term sustainability of crop production depends on the complex network of interactions and trade-offs between biotic, abiotic and economic components of agroecosystems. An integrated arable management system was designed to maintain yields, whilst enhancing biodiversity and minimising environmental impact. Management interventions included conservation tillage and organic matter incorporation for soil biophysical health, reduced crop protection inputs and integrated pest management strategies for enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and intercropping, cover cropping and under-sowing to achieve more sustainable nutrient management. This system was compared directly with standard commercial practice in a split-field experimental design over a six-year crop rotation. The effect of the cropping treatment was assessed according to the responses of a suite of indicators, which were used to parameterise a qualitative multi-attribute model. Scenarios were run to test whether the integrated cropping system achieved greater levels of overall sustainability relative to standard commercial practice. Overall sustainability was rated high for both integrated and conventional management of bean, barley and wheat crops. Winter oilseed crops scored medium for both cropping systems and potatoes scored very low under standard management but achieved a medium level of sustainability with integrated management. In general, high scores for environmental sustainability in integrated cropping systems were offset by low scores for economic sustainability relative to standard commercial practice. This case study demonstrates the value of a 'whole cropping systems' approach using qualitative multi-attribute modelling for the assessment of existing cropping systems and for predicting the likely impact of new management interventions on arable sustainability.

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Assessing the sustainability of cropping systems in single- and multi-site studies. A review of methods

Cited by 52 publications

References 100 publications

The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

The Pitfalls of Relating Weeds, Herbicide Use, and Crop Yield: Don't Fall Into the Trap! A Critical Review

Assessing Agro-Ecological and Economic Sustainability of Cereals-Based Cropping Systems in Souk Ahras High Plains (East Algeria)

Whole-Systems Analysis of Environmental and Economic Sustainability in Arable Cropping Systems: A Case Study

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