ASSESSING AGRO-ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY OF CEREALS-BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN SOUK AHRAS HIGH PLAINS (EAST ALGERIA)

摘要

The food deficit that has prevailed for more than 50 years in the Algerianagricultural sector, the problem of land depletion due mainly to the regression oforganic matter levels in soils generated by cereals fallow system, widelypracticed in the Algerian semi-arid zones, and the evolution of the expectationsof consumers, multiply to infinity the need to assess cropping systemssustainability. To reach this goal we have integrated 10 agro ecologic andeconomic indicators values into a global sustainability index (Sg) ranking from 0to 1, applying continuous non-linear sustainability functions that use thresholdsdefining what is sustainable, unsustainable, or intermediate. Data needed tocalculate the indicators was getting from face to face interview with farmers for140 fields practicing 6 cereals-based cropping systems (cereal worked andpastured fallow, continues cereal, cereal potatoes, grain legumes or other crops)in Souk Ahras high plains region (east of Algeria).The evaluation results showedthat cereal other crops and cereal potatoes systems have a better overallsustainability despite the fact that some of the indicators can be negativelyimpacted. Cereal worked fallow has the lowest sustainability. The high value ofeconomic indicators; variable cost and gross income explain the first result, pooreconomic performance, and inadequate soil management make that cerealworked fallow has the lowest sustainability. Cereal grain legumes system issupported by the state as part of the program of resorption of fallow; but it has anintermediate durability, with high agro ecological performances, and moderateeconomic sustainability due to the lack of mastery of technical itinerary.