The cropping-plan decision-making : a farm level modelling and simulation approach.

Summary Crop rotation, i.e., the allocation of crops to the different plots of land on the farm, is a fundamental element of the farmer's strategy. It is the result of a balance between multiple constraints and objectives combining social, economic, agronomic and environmental (resource use) dimensions. It reflects two dimensions: a strategic dimension (linked to the farm's orientations) and a tactical dimension more related to the adaptation of allocations following changing contexts (climate' price). In order to represent these two levels and thus structure the issues related to crop rotation choices at the farm level, we propose an approach based on: i) an analysis of the decision-making process through on-farm surveys. ii) dynamic modeling of both biophysical processes (crop models) and management processes (decision model) to understand and simulate.