Sensitivity analysis of a hierarchical qualitative model for sustainability assessment of cropping systems

Carpani, Marta; Bergez, Jacques-Eric; Monod, Hervé

doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2011.10.002

Cited by 36 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Through the IZIEval interface, both the sensitivity indexes (SI) and Monte Carlo (MC) analyses were performed, to gain the SA. In particular, according to Carpani et al [15] we used the same basic attributes utilized for the "overall environmental sustainability" in the sensitivity indexes computation. The software automatically attributed an equal weight or probability of occurrence to all possible values of each variable.…”

Section: Dexi-met Sensitivity Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this framework, the multi-criteria analysis (MCA) decision-making methods can handle a typical decision-making problem related to sustainability assessment. The MCA are increasingly gaining importance in agriculture, since they can consider multiple and conflicting criteria and, at the same time, they are able to tackle complex decisional problems breaking them down in easily understandable elements [14][15][16]. In recent years, the scientific community has developed several qualitative MCA tools for the sustainability assessment of different agricultural systems [17,18], based on a computer program for multi-attribute decision-making, defined as "DEXi" by Bohanec et al [19].…”

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confidence: 99%

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Organic Vegetable Crops Managed with Agro-Ecological Practices: Environmental Sustainability Assessment by DEXi-met Decision Support System

Montemurro¹,

Persiani²,

Diacono³

2019

Applied Sciences

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In the last decade, there has been an increasing interest in sustainable agricultural techniques and the environmental evaluation of the effects of agricultural practices. In the present study, we evaluated both the production capacity of organic horticultural systems, and the ex-post sustainability through a new multi-attribute decision model named "DEXi-met". This qualitative model is able to estimate the environmental sustainability of cropping systems managed with different agro-ecological approaches. In particular, we compared the following three horticultural systems: (i) ECO, an organic system with full implementation of agro-ecological strategies (agro-ecological services crops (ASC), strip cultivation, and organic amendment); (ii) GM, an organic system with the introduction of the ASC; (iii) NO ASC, an organic system without ASC. The treatments with ASC presence (ECO and GM) showed similar total energy outputs (substantially higher than the NO ASC), indicating the positive effect of this agro-ecological practice. The findings pointed out that the ECO system, which followed the principles of natural ecosystems, can contribute to building up more complex agro-ecosystems, increasing both resilience and biodiversity. This management strategy reached a good compromise between the production of vegetable cropping systems and environmental sustainability achievement. Then, it is possible to optimize the use of natural resources, support climate adaptation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 4148 2 of 15 of agro-ecological service crops (ASC; [4]), utilization of soil amendments [5], and crop/livestock mixing can increase agro-ecosystem diversity and complexity both over space and time [6].A prerequisite to the systems sustainability implementation is the development, improvement, and/or choice of the best possible assessment methods. In fact, there is a need to determine the reliability of innovative management practices with respect to the conventional ones, and to clarify the benefits and the drawbacks of the full or partial application of an agro-ecological approach. To this end, several approaches to measure, analyze, and assess sustainability have been developed [7]. The different methodologies can be classified on the basis of: (i) the typology of indicators used, from qualitative appraisals to quantitative analytical evaluations [8]; (ii) the scale of analysis, from the single plot to the whole farm or regional scales [9]; (iii) the systems typology, from orchards [10] to arable or horticultural crops [11]; and the timing of analysis, as ex-ante or ex-post evaluation [12].Within this large number of methodologies, a growing interest focuses on multi-method approaches, which aim at accounting for the complexity of sustainability issues [13]. In this framework, the multi-criteria analysis (MCA) decision-making methods can handle a typical decision-making problem related to sustainability assessment. The MCA are increasingly gaining importance in agriculture, since they can consider...

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Section: Dexi-met Sensitivity Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Vegetable Crops Managed with Agro-Ecological Practices: Environmental Sustainability Assessment by DEXi-met Decision Support System

Montemurro¹,

Persiani²,

Diacono³

2019

Applied Sciences

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“…Sensitivity analyses are one way to gain confidence in models and increase their transparency (Bergez 2013; Singh et al 2012). To perform this step, sensitivity analysis tools adapted to hierarchical qualitative models built in DEXi were recently developed Carpani et al 2012) and are available to designers and users (http://wiki.inra.fr/ wiki/deximasc/Interface+IZI-EVAL/Accueil). Although results of this type of analysis require case-by-case interpretation, some generic lessons can be drawn from their use on existing models: (1) the greater the number of criteria, the lower the influence of individual criteria on the overall result; (2) the greater the number of hierarchical levels, the lower the influence of the basic criteria on the overall result.…”

Section: Evaluating the Relevance Of Model Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Craheix¹,

Bergez²,

Angevin³

et al. 2015

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

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New agricultural systems are required to satisfy societal expectations such as higher quantity and quality of agricultural products, reducing environmental impacts, and more jobs. However, identifying and implementing more suitable agricultural systems is difficult due to conflicting objectives and to the wide diversity of scientific disciplines required to solve agricultural issues. Therefore, designing models to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems requires multicriteria decision aid methods. The French agronomist community has recently developed 11 hierarchical and qualitative models to assess sustainability using the DEXi decision aid software. Here, we give guidelines to help designers to build their own specific models. First, we present the principles and applications of the DEXi software. Then, we provide guidance on the following steps of model designing: (1) initial analysis and planning of the design process, (2) selection and hierarchy of sustainability criteria, (3) indicator selection and building, (4) parameterization, (5) evaluation, and (6) model dissemination and uses. We then discuss advantages and drawbacks of this kind of modeling formalism, the role of a participatory approach, and the main properties to consider during the design process.

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“…The DEXi software [40] provides a table with the respective weights of input and aggregated attributes on the value of the root node (main output). This table can be seen as an equivalent to a simple sensitivity analysis to input variables for quantitative models, prior to more detailed ones [53]. It is notable that IPSIM models have no parameters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Injury Profile SIMulator, a Qualitative Aggregative Modelling Framework to Predict Crop Injury Profile as a Function of Cropping Practices, and the Abiotic and Biotic Environment. I. Conceptual Bases

Aubertot

Robin

2013

PLoS ONE

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The limitation of damage caused by pests (plant pathogens, weeds, and animal pests) in any agricultural crop requires integrated management strategies. Although significant efforts have been made to i) develop, and to a lesser extent ii) combine genetic, biological, cultural, physical and chemical control methods in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies (vertical integration), there is a need for tools to help manage Injury Profiles (horizontal integration). Farmers design cropping systems according to their goals, knowledge, cognition and perception of socio-economic and technological drivers as well as their physical, biological, and chemical environment. In return, a given cropping system, in a given production situation will exhibit a unique injury profile, defined as a dynamic vector of the main injuries affecting the crop. This simple description of agroecosystems has been used to develop IPSIM (Injury Profile SIMulator), a modelling framework to predict injury profiles as a function of cropping practices, abiotic and biotic environment. Due to the tremendous complexity of agroecosystems, a simple holistic aggregative approach was chosen instead of attempting to couple detailed models. This paper describes the conceptual bases of IPSIM, an aggregative hierarchical framework and a method to help specify IPSIM for a given crop. A companion paper presents a proof of concept of the proposed approach for a single disease of a major crop (eyespot on wheat). In the future, IPSIM could be used as a tool to help design ex-ante IPM strategies at the field scale if coupled with a damage sub-model, and a multicriteria sub-model that assesses the social, environmental, and economic performances of simulated agroecosystems. In addition, IPSIM could also be used to help make diagnoses on commercial fields. It is important to point out that the presented concepts are not crop- or pest-specific and that IPSIM can be used on any crop.

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Sensitivity analysis of a hierarchical qualitative model for sustainability assessment of cropping systems

Cited by 36 publications

References 16 publications

Organic Vegetable Crops Managed with Agro-Ecological Practices: Environmental Sustainability Assessment by DEXi-met Decision Support System

Organic Vegetable Crops Managed with Agro-Ecological Practices: Environmental Sustainability Assessment by DEXi-met Decision Support System

Guidelines to design models assessing agricultural sustainability, based upon feedbacks from the DEXi decision support system

Injury Profile SIMulator, a Qualitative Aggregative Modelling Framework to Predict Crop Injury Profile as a Function of Cropping Practices, and the Abiotic and Biotic Environment. I. Conceptual Bases

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