Multi-criteria assessment of cropping systems for the sustainable intensification in the Pampas

Abstract

CONTEXT: The transformation of cropping systems towards sustainable intensification (SI) is essential in order to meet the demands of society. In the Pampas region of Argentina, most agricultural research has focused on crop ecophysiology and agronomic factors, although what seems to be lacking is an integrated evaluation of cropping systems to determine their alignment with SI trends. Multi-criteria analysis (MCDA) methods provide a formal framework to assess trade-offs between production and sustainability, rendering them useful for SI analysis. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to compare and rank the cropping systems available in the rolling Pampas, the corn belt of Argentina, based on their alignment with SI trajectories, using the multi-criteria decision model “Preference Ranking Organization Methods for Enrichment Evaluations” (PROMETHEE). METHODS: We used information from a mid-term experiment conducted in Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to compare ten cropping systems over five consecutive years. These systems resulted from combining three crop sequences with either fallow or cover crops during the winter, and were grown using two different management practices. Sixteen economic, socioeconomic, and environmental criteria were defined to assess each of the cropping systems. We combined PROMETHEE with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to compare the cropping systems. We considered two different decision-making profiles: one obtained through interviews with farmers, and the other based on interviews with agents involved in sustainable production systems at the Ministry of Agriculture of Argentina. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We ranked the cropping systems assessed according to how well they aligned with SI, the system that combines improving profits with reduced environmental impact. We found that the three-year rotation sequence of wheat/soybean-corn-soybean is the most aligned to the sustainable intensification option among the feasible crop sequences implemented in the rolling Pampas region. Furthermore, our results indicate that cover crops provide environmental benefits, but the associated costs discourage their implementation when the farmer profile focuses on maximizing economic benefits. SIGNIFICANCE: We emphasize the importance of integrally analyzing cropping systems. Our findings confirm the advantages noted in prior studies and provide a more thorough evaluation of wheat/soybean-corn-soybean three-year sequence. Finally, our work demonstrates the value of PROMETHEE multi-criteria analysis in assessing the SI of cropping systems. This tool could be a useful aid in facilitating discussions among farmers, consultants and other stakeholders, in the search for sustainable intensification pathways.