The STICS soil-crop model: a generic model to simulate the functioning of agroecosystems

Publication date: 06-02-2026
Extent: 44 pages

Contributions by: Benjamin Dumont and Mathieu Delandmeter, University of Liège, Belgium; Marie-Odile Bancal, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR EcoSys, France; Nicolas Beaudoin and Joël Léonard, INRAE, UMR Transfrontalière BioEcoAgro, France; Samuel Buis, INRAE, Avignon Université, UMR EMMAH, France; Julie Caubel, EcoClimaSol, France and INRAE, US Agroclim, France; Hugues Clivot, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, INRAE, FARE, UMR A 614, France; Julie Constantin, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, UMR AGIR, France; Antoine Couëdel and Mathilde de Freitas, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, UPR AIDA, France; Audrey Deheinzelin, INRAE, US Agroclim, France; Gatien N. Falconnier, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, UPR AIDA, France, CIRAD, UPR AIDA, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe; Fabien Ferchaud, UMR Eco&Sols, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, IRD, Institut Agro Montpellier, France; Iñaki García de Cortázar- Atauri, Marie Launay, Patrice Lecharpentier and Dominique Ripoche, INRAE, US Agroclim, France; Anne-Isabelle Graux, Agrocampus Ouest, INRAE, UMR PEGASE, France; Guillaume Jego, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada; Arthur Lenoir, University of Liège, Belgium; Gaetan Louarn, INRAE UR P3F, France; Alain Mollier, INRAE, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR1391 ISPA, France; Céline Schoving, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, UMR AGIR, France; Mounir Seghouani, INRAE, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, UMR1391 ISPA, France and CIRAD, University of Montpellier, UPR Recyclage et Risque, France; Loïc Strullu, Strullu Company, France; Remi Vezy, CIRAD, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INRAE, IRD, UMR AMAP, France; Tiphaine Vidal, Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UR BIOGER, France; Eric Justes, CIRAD, France; and Jean-Louis Durand, INRAE UR P3F, France

Chapter synopsis:

This chapter offers a general presentation of the STICS soil-crop model. Through numerous illustrations dealing notably with genetic x environment x management interactions, it presents an overview of the wide domain of validity of the model, along with its performances, demonstrating its potential for a wide range of agronomic and environmental applications. Since the beginning of its story in the early 90’s, STICS has been able to remain a generic and robust model that allows to simulate the functioning of agro-ecosystems, both in temperate and tropical environments. As highlighted in this chapter, and particularly in the last two sections, many efforts were, and are still, put to keep the model up-to-date and in a permanent state of evolution towards better representation of cropping systems, allowing to analyze novel research and applied questions.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2025.0155.11