Data Analysis and Related Applications, Volume 2

10Structural Modeling: An Application to the Evaluation of Ecosystem Practices at the Plot Level

This chapter proposes the use of structural modeling for the evaluation of ecosystem-based practices (e.g. biological control of crop pests) on the basis of data collected at the scale of the agricultural plot. In the first part, we present the analytical approach used – structural modeling by partial least squares. In the second part, we present the field of study and the data considered in this work. In the third part, we present and discuss the results from the implementation of the partial least squares-path modeling (PLS-PM) approach. Finally, we conclude on the validation of this approach and the prospects for its possible extension.

10.1. Introduction

The biological control of crop pests and weeds is an example of ecosystem services (ES) – the benefits that ecosystems provide to humankind (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005) – provided at the farm plot level. The amenities provided by ecosystem infrastructures and agro-ecological practices in terms of soil protection, water resource management and preservation of the habitat of agricultural auxiliaries constitute productive services that can be evaluated at the plot and farm levels. For example, the biological control of crop pests and weeds by naturally occurring beneficials (such as ladybirds that predate aphids) is one of the productive services that can be mobilized at the plot level to reduce the dependence of agricultural ...