Sensitivity analysis of the STICS-MACRO model to identify cropping practices reducing pesticides losses

Abstract

STICS-MACRO is a process-based model simulating the fate of pesticides in the soil-plant system as a function of agricultural practices and pedoclimatic conditions. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of crop management practices on water and pesticide flows in contrasted environmental conditions. We used the Morris screening sensitivity analysis method to identify the most influential cropping practices. Crop residues management and tillage practices were shown to have strong effects on water percolation and pesticide leaching. In particular, the amount of organic residues added to soil was found to be the most influential input. The presence of a mulch could increase soil water content so water percolation and pesticide leaching. Conventional tillage was also found to decrease pesticide leaching, compared to no-till, which is consistent with many field observations. The effects of the soil, crop and climate conditions tested in this work were less important than those of cropping practices. STICS-MACRO allows an ex ante evaluation of cropping systems and agricultural practices, and of the related pesticides environmental impacts. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

STICS-MACRO model; Morris sensitivity analysis; Conservation agriculture; Sustainable cropping practices; Water percolation; Pesticide leaching

Published in

Science of the Total Environment
2017, Volume: 580, pages: 117-129 Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Moeys, Julien

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation


UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.010

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/94166