Continuous multi-criteria methods for crop and soil conservation planning on La Colacha (Río Cuarto, Province of Córdoba, Argentina)

Abstract

Abstract. Agro-areas of Arroyos Menores (La Colacha) west and south of Río Cuarto (Prov. of Córdoba, Argentina) basins are very fertile but have high soil loses. Extreme rain events, inundations and other severe erosions forming gullies demand urgently actions in this area to avoid soil degradation and erosion supporting good levels of agro production. The authors first improved hydrologic data on La Colacha, evaluated the systems of soil uses and actions that could be recommended considering the relevant aspects of the study area and applied decision support systems (DSS) with mathematic tools for planning of defences and uses of soils in these areas. These were conducted here using multi-criteria models, in multi-criteria decision making (MCDM); first of discrete MCDM to chose among global types of use of soils, and then of continuous MCDM to evaluate and optimize combined actions, including repartition of soil use and the necessary levels of works for soil conservation and for hydraulic management to conserve against erosion these basins. Relatively global solutions for La Colacha area have been defined and were optimised by Linear Programming in Goal Programming forms that are presented as Weighted or Lexicographic Goal Programming and as Compromise Programming. The decision methods used are described, indicating algorithms used, and examples for some representative scenarios on La Colacha area are given.

Evaluation of management practices in rice–wheat cropping system using multicriteria decision-making methods in conservation agriculture

“…It considers the proximity of each alternative to the ideal solution and far from the negative ideal solution (NIS) 14 . The use of the MCDM technique is not rare in the agricultural decision-making process 15 – 18 , but the performance of the conjoint use of TOPSIS and AHP is hardly known. Such use of multi-attribute decision-making methodologies is useful to tackle more complex problems with multiple conflicting parameters.…”

Preface "Weather-related hazards and risks in agriculture"

“…Extreme rain events, inundations and other severe erosions forming gullies demand urgently actions in agro-areas of Arroyos Menores (La Colacha) to avoid soil degradation and erosion supporting good levels of agro-production. Antón et al (2012) evaluated the systems of soil uses and actions that should be considered as relevant aspects of the study area. Then, they applied discrete MCDM to choose among global types of use of soils, and later continuous MCDM to evaluate and optimise combined actions, including repartition of soil use and the necessary levels of works for soil conservation and for hydraulic management to conserve against erosion these basins.…”