LandSFACTS

Software for spatio-temporal allocation of crops to fields for researchers and modellers

Overview and Examples | Inputs | Processes | Outputs | Download | Acknowledgements & Development team

Overview

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LandSFACTS allocates crops to fields through time, while respecting crop rotations and spatio-temporal conditions on crop arrangements. Crop rotations are mathematically integrated within the model as transition matrices of crops, defining the probability of crop to crop succession as a Markov process. Spatio-temporal conditions are divided into two types (i) temporal and spatial restrictions on crop allocation. (e.g. return period of crops, separation distances between crops or yearly crop proportions) and (ii) general crop patterns, measured by using specifically designed statistical tests.

LandSFACTS may be used for any agricultural landscape because no agronomic information is intrinsic to the software. The limitations imposed by the model are its smallest spatial and temporal unit: only one crop is allocated per field and per year.

The software is designed in a modular format, permitting the addition of extensions. The current version of LandSFACTS software is released as open source software under the GNU Public Licence.

Examples of LandSFACTS uses

• To generate crop allocations to fields, which are spatially and temporally coherent on a study landscape.
• Generate one or several year(s) crop allocation meeting targets crop proportions and separation distances between crops.
• To examine the consequences on separation distances between GM and conventional crops, on the possible percentage of both crops grown, over the years.
• To identify fields, rotations or constraints, which are most hindering the crop allocations.