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Combining user involvement with innovative design to develop a radical new method for managing N fertilization

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Abstract

In France, a single science-based model has dominated winter wheat N fertilizer management for 40 years. Despite scientific progress, it remains challenging to minimize N losses whilst maximizing grain yield and achieving satisfactory grain protein content. A mismatch between the science-based method and its implementation has been demonstrated. We thought that involving users early in the design process would lead to explore more relevant methods regarding the diversity of N issues and implementation conditions. We used a three-step design process: (1) a diagnosis of the uses of existing methods and tools, (2) a design process combining participatory workshops, generation of new knowledge and model-based prototyping, and (3) a test of the prototype in the users’ conditions. We identified the fixing of a target yield a priori as one of the major problems with the current N fertilization method. We thus established an exploratory conceptual axis: “a fertilization method without target yield”. Design workshops led to a new method based on (1) the regular monitoring of crop N nutrition, (2) the acceptance of periods of crop N deficiency, and (3) the simulation of short-term soil N availability with a crop model. New knowledge was generated, and the Azodyn model was used to build decision rules for N applications, based on viability theory. The prototype was tested by two groups of farmers. We show that, by combining the three steps used here, it was possible to develop an innovative fertilizer method radically different from the dominant paradigm, and positively received by users.

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Acknowledgements

This work was performed under the auspices of the Initiative INRA-AgroParisTech for Design in Agrifood Systems (IDEAS). We thank the farmers and advisors who participated in the diagnosis of uses and prototype testing. We thank the experts (Marc Bardinal, Michel Bonnefoy, Philippe Braun, Pierre Cellier, Marianne Cerf, Olivier Deudon, Laurence Guichard, Eric Masson, Sylvie Recous) who participated, with the authors of this paper, in the workshops, and made major contributions to the emergence of the new concept. We thank Marc Lambert from Yara for lending us chlorophyll meters. We thank Arvalis-Institut-du-végétal, and ADEME (Agence de l’Environment et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie) for funding this study. This study was part of the REACCTIF project. We thank Julie Sappa from Alex Edelman & Associates for reviewing the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR211 Agronomie, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, BP 01, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Clémence Ravier & Marie-Hélène Jeuffroy

  2. Arvalis-Institut-du-Végétal, Station Expérimentale de la Jaillière, 44370, La Chapelle Saint-Sauveur, France

    Clémence Ravier & Jean-Pierre Cohan

  3. Arvalis-Institut-du-Végétal, 3 Rue Joseph & Marie Hackin, 75116, Paris, France

    Philippe Gate

  4. UMR1048 SAD-APT, INRA, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Campus de Grignon, Batiment EGER, BP 01, 78850, Thiverval-Grignon, France

    Jean-Marc Meynard

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  1. Clémence Ravier
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Correspondence to Jean-Marc Meynard.

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Ravier, C., Jeuffroy, MH., Gate, P. et al. Combining user involvement with innovative design to develop a radical new method for managing N fertilization. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 110, 117–134 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-017-9891-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-017-9891-5

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