Conceptual bases

   The first step of this work has been to achieve a conceptual scheme generic representing an agroecosystem and its drivers. The underlying assumption of this representation is that the combination of the Production Situation, PS, (defined by the physical, chemical and biological components of a given field or agroecosystem and its environment, as well as socio-economic drivers that affect farmer's decisions) and a cropping system led to an unique injury profile. The attached figure is the conceptual diagram of IPSIM model (Injury Profile Simulator).
The outputs of the model are the final severities caused by a pest or by an IP and inputs are structured in three major groups of variables: cropping practices, weather and soil and field environment. (Figure : Schematic representation of an agroecosystem and its drivers).