Linking crop models and agro-environmental indicators : A new approach for the dynamic assessment of cropping systems. An application to banana cropping systems in the French West Indies

Monospecific banana (Musa spp., AAA group, cv. Cavendish Grande Naine) based cropping systems may be very detrimental to the environment. In these agrosystems, there is a high risk of pesticide pollution of surface and ground water, especially in the insular tropical conditions of the French West Indies. A specific model called SIMBA was built to assess these risks and help design more sustainable cropping systems. SIMBA simulates banana cropping systems through several crop cycles. It includes sub-models that simulate plant population and phenology, soil structure, water balance, root nematode populations, yield, and economic outputs. Agri-environmental indicators linked to the model enable environmental impact assessment. The model has been implemented in Guadeloupe and will be useful for drawing up practical guidelines for farmers, and virtual testing of agro-technological innovations or field management strategies. (Résumé d'auteur