Analysis of a complex crop production system in interdependent agro-ecological zones: a methodological approach for potatoes in Argentina

This paper shows how a highly complex potato production system, like the Argentinian one., can be surveyed and analysed. A survey was complemented with the use of a Geographic Information System and a simulation model approach which improves the understanding of the possibilities for increasing future crop production by expanding the area cropped with potatoes and/or the yield. A yield gap analysis was also a useful and comprehensive tool to identify and rank yield defining. yield limiting and yield reducing factors for those agro-ecological zones where the potato is currently grown. With these procedures, the physiological age of seed tubers and virus diseases were identified as the most relevant factors limiting and reducing yield. Specific strategies can be developed to counteract their limiting and reducing effects upon seed quality and tuber yield. The approach of this work does not only apply for the specific situation of the potato crop in Argentina, but this framework could be successfully applied to other crops or production systems elsewhere. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.