FRUPAT: A Tool to Quantify Inputs and Outputs of Patagonian Fruit Production Systems

A software called FRUPAT was developed for calculating input and output coefficients (Technical Coefficients) of fruit production systems in South Patagonia. FRUPAT combined locations (Río Chubut valley; Sarmiento valley; Los Antiguos valley; Río Chico valley), edaphic environment (good quality soil with water-table depth exceeding 2 m; good quality soil with water-table depth between 1 and 2 m; low water holding capacity soil without water-table influence), fruit-tree crops (sweet cherry; plum; peach; apple; walnut), training systems (tatura; central leader; vase), irrigation systems (drip; furrow) and frost control systems (sprinkler irrigation; heating; passive) that provided 1080 multi-annual fruit production activities. Parameters have been identified as default values and most of those can be easily modified by the user. Relevant inputs and outputs can be estimated, such as gross value of product, expenditures, financial result, biocide use, N-fertiliser surplus and labour. As an example of how FRUPAT can be used, some results are presented for a single physical environment (good quality soil with water-table depth exceeding 2 m, in the Río Chubut valley) using sprinkler irrigation as frost control method. First, 5 crops under a single production technique (vase with furrow irrigation) are compared in terms of their monetary technical coefficients. Subsequently, results of sweet cherry under different production techniques (3 training systems with 2 irrigation systems) are presented. Finally, the time course of gross value of product, total expenditures, financial result and cumulative financial result are analyzed for a single activity (sweet cherry, trained as tatura under drip irrigation). FRUPAT may be used as a stand-alone tool for simple analysis as demonstrated here or as an intermediate step for linear programming. INTRODUCTION In the valleys of South Patagonia agro-ecological conditions are favourable for fruit production and different stakeholders are interested in the development of the fruit sector. However, it is not clear what systems are best for the most efficient use of the available resources to realise the various objectives of the different stakeholders. Analysing fruit production systems and their alternative management options from experimental data is generally not feasible because of their long production cycles and the extensive resources required (Meinke et al., 2001). Therefore a modelling approach is more suitable. Long-term studies may provide crucial information for decision-makers for strategic planning of sustainable land use. When performed using linear programming, such studies need large numbers of quantitative data (Technical Coefficients: TCs) for the different activities. TCs include inputs (nutrients, pesticides, labour, capital, etc.) and outputs, both desired (gross value of product) and undesired (surplus of N, biocides’ emissions, risk, etc.) (De Koning et al., 1995; Van Ittersum and Rabbinge, 1997). Quantification of the TCs can be based on various sources, such as experimental results knowledge of experts and historical data; and on production ecological principles (Van Ittersum and Rabbinge, 1997; Kropff et al., 2001). This paper describes the Technical Coefficient Generator (TCG) FRUPAT, a tool for quantification of inputs and outputs Proc. VII IS on Modelling in Fruit Research Ed.: P. Braun Acta Hort 707, ISHS 2006 224 (TCs) for fruit-tree activities in South Patagonia. It may be used as a stand-alone tool for simple analysis or as an intermediate step for linear programming.