Abderrhim BOUHENACHE
UMR FARE INRAE/URCA, 2 Esp. Roland Garros, 51100 Reims, France
Contact: abderrahim.bouhenache.1@inrae.fr or bouhenacheabderrahim@gmail.com · (+33) 753 52 27 91 ·
For a resume, click HERE
Ph.D. Agronomy
Postoctoral Researcher in soil-crop modeling at INRAE
My skills lie in sustainable plant production and agroecology, with a strong background in field experimentation and agricultural surveys, and a particular interest in crop modeling. My expertise focuses on the design and assessment of cropping systems across Mediterranean, (Algeria), temperate (France), and tropical (Zimbabwe)contexts. My research addresses issues of resource use efficiency, resilience, and adaptation to climate change.
KEYS WORDS: Cropping systems, sustainability, agroecology, mulch, 15N labelling, intercropping, crop modeling, experimentation, surveys, territorial development, multi-criteria assessment, climate change adaptation.
Experience
Postdoctoral researcher in soil-crop modeling
Subject: Modelling of soil organic matter dynamics using STICS
Project: ALAMOD- Evaluating STICS ability to simulate long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics using long-term experiments (LTEs) datasets
- Evaluating and improving short- and long-term simulations of plant litter decomposition with STICS
Ph.D. candidate in agricultural sciences
Subject: Impact of climate change on production and recycling of crop biomass and soil nitrogen use: a case study with maize under extreme rainfall events in Zimbabwe
Project: RAIZ- Design, implementation and monitoring of a field rainfall manipulation experiment in Zimbabwe
- Evaluation of crop performance drivers under contrasted management and rainfall treatments
- Monitoring and analysis of in-situ surface crop residue decomposition dynamics
- Field assessment of nitrogen fertilizer fate in the soil–plant system via ¹⁵N tracing experiment
- Modeling of water and nitrogen dynamics under different management and rainfall treatments using the STICS soil-crop model
Temporary contract as Studies Engineer
Subject: Agronomic, economic and environmental assessment of cropping systems designed to supply the methanization sector
Project: AD’METHA- Analysis of the results of cropping system trials
- Writing of synthesis and technical documents
- Participation in project meetings and presentation of results
- Participating to the organization of technical days
Temporary contract of 12 month
Subject: Design and ex-ante assessment of diversified cropping systems to increase the provision of ecosystem services of interest in a crop-livestock region
Project: EVADIVER
- Bibliography and conceptual modeling of the effects of diversified cropping systems on ecosystem services provision
- Co-design of diversified cropping systems with local actors
- Simulation tests using the APSIM model
6-month internship
Subject: Multi-criteria assessment of climate change adaptation scenarios for the sunflower crop
Project: ACCAF-OPERATE (crOP disEase Response to climATE change adaptation)
- Development of simple epidemiological models for sunflower diseases
- Simulation of risk trends according to adaptation strategies under future climate
- Design and implementation of a decision tree type model under DEXi (choice of criteria, indicators and weightings)
- Multi-criteria assessment (production, environment and health risk) of adaptation strategies
- Identification of the most promising strategies and formulation of future prospects
Collective internship
Subject: Assessment of phytosanitary practices and economic performance of farms in the Tarn-et-Garonne
Project: GesPPEIR
- Survey on the use of phytosanitary products
- Introduction of the EToPhy tool and IRSA and IRTE risk indicators to local farmers
- Analysis and synthesis of the results to the participating actors
Collective internship
Subject: Territorial diagnosis of the Rotja valley
- Survey on the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of the agricultural sector to climate change
- Synthesis of the assets for relaunching the apple sector in the territory
6-month internship
Subject: Effects of the chickpea-durum wheat intercropping on water and nitrogen use efficiency
Project: ARIMNet2-SEMIARID (Sustainable and Efficient Mediterranean farming systems: Improving Agriculture Resilience through Irrigation and Diversification)
- Design, installation and monitoring of a multi-site experiment
- Sampling and laboratory analyzes (phenological variables, nitrogen in the soil and the plants, protein dosage, etc.)
- Statistical analysis of data and preliminary simulations of the water balance with the BISWAT model
- Writing and defense of the end of studies thesis
OTHER INTERNSHIPS
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Technical Institute of Field Crops - Algiers (Algeria)
Practical internship: « Production of cereal seeds »
Apr. 2019
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National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA) - Algiers (Algeria)
Introductory research internship: « Morphological and karyological characterization of various Algerian plant genetic resources »
Dec. 2018
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Higher National Agronomic school - Biskra, Oued Souf (Algeria)
Field internship in southern Algeria: « Date palm cultivation and oasis arboriculture »
Nov. 2018
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Higher National Agronomic school - Western Algeria
Field internship in western Algeria: « Field crops in Algeria »
May 2018
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Higher National Agronomic school - Eastern Algeria
Field internship in eastern Algeria: « Production systems in Algeria »
Apr. 2018
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AGROLIVAL Groupe - Mila (Algeria)
Immersion internship in agronomy
Apr. 2017
Educational Background
University of Reims Champagne Ardenne - Reims (France)
URCA
Abstract:
Intra-seasonal rainfall variability and the increasing frequency of extreme dry and wet events threaten rainfed maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. This thesis assesses the effects of rainfall regimes, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and crop residue mulching on productivity, N use, and residue decomposition under subhumid field conditions in Zimbabwe. Experiments show that intra-seasonal rainfall distribution primarily controls yield variability. Heavy rainfall events can increase yield when coinciding with drought periods, whereas mulching has limited effects on biomass, plant N uptake, and soil microclimate. Residue decomposition is strongly constrained by drought, reducing nutrient recycling. ¹⁵N tracing revealed very low N recovery by maize under dry and irregular rainfall conditions, with substantial residual N in the soil at high risk of loss. Overall, these results highlight that the effectiveness of crop management practices strongly depends on rainfall patterns, and that sustainable intensification must account for intra-seasonal variability to enhance the resilience and productivity of rainfed maize systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Montpellier / Paul valéry university (France)
CIHEAM-IAMM / UPVM3
Ranking: 1/15 students
Vulnerability and adaptation assessment, improvement of the resilience of production systems to Climate Change, management of agricultural production systems in both an economic and environmental approach, learning of theoretical and practical tools and the acquisition of experience professional (individual and group internships), analyze the technico-economic functioning of the farm and the agricultural region, implementation of decision support methods, forecast analysis and strategic management in consultancy procedures at the individual and collective levels. Development of optimization models for technical and production choices at farm and regional levels. Coupling biophysical and economic models for decision support in the management of natural resources and diffuse pollution in agriculture.
the Higher National Agronomic School
(ENSA) - Algiers (Algeria)
Speciality « Plant production and improvement »
Ranking: 2/19 students
Classical training of agricultural engineers on agricultural surveys and field experiments, with a focus on the plant and plot scales. Theoretical and practical courses in the various fields of Plant Science: field crops, vegetables, perennial crops, genetic improvement of plants.
the Higher National Agronomic School
(ENSA) - Algiers (Algeria)
Speciality « Genetic resources and improvement of plant production »
Ranking: 1/19 students
Preparatory School in Nature and Life Sciences
EPSNV - Algiers (Algeria)
High school of Martyr Si-Elhaoues
Mila - Algeria
Mention: good
Knowledge and Skills
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QGIS
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ArcGIS
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R packages: sf, raster and Whitebox
- Autonomous, serious and responsible
- Scientific rigor, team spirit
- Learning and synthesis skills
Publications
- 1. Bouhenache A. Using rainfall exclusion systems to simulate crop responses to drought. Nat Rev Earth Environ. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-026-00784-0
- 2. Bouhenache A, Lashermes G, Clivot H, Recous S, Chikowo R, Shumba A, Mazungunye H, Matimba E, Alavoine G, Delfosse O, Falconnier GN, Affholder F, Corbeels M, Cardinael R. Intra-seasonal rainfall patterns and extremes drive maize productivity and nitrogen use in sub-humid Zimbabwe. Field Crops Res. 2025; 334:110126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2025.110126
- 3. Kherif O, Seghouani M, Justes E, Plaza-Bonilla D, Bouhenache A, Zemmouri B, Dokukin P, Latati M. The first calibration and evaluation of the STICS soil-crop model on chickpea-based intercropping system under Mediterranean conditions. Eur. J. Agron. 2022; 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2021.126449
- 4. Kherif O, Seghouani M, Zemmouri B, Bouhenache A, Keskes MI, Yacer-Nazih R, Ouaret W, Latati M. Understanding the Response of Wheat-Chickpea Intercropping to Nitrogen Fertilization Using Agro-Ecological Competitive Indices under Contrasting Pedoclimatic Conditions. Agronomy 2021; 11(6):1225. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061225
- 5. Pret V, Falconnier GN, Descheemaeker K, Corbeels M, Chikowo R, Cardinael R, Couëdel A, Diop S, Murimwa J, Chinwa H, Bouhenache A, Kwenda IW, de Freitas M, Affholder F. Identifying the drivers of yield gaps in maize and legumes on smallholder farms in Zimbabwe using a locally calibrated crop model. Field Crops Res. (accepted).
- 6. Bouhenache A et al.,. Surface residue decomposition dynamics under rainfall extremes and their effects on soil microclimate and maize water and nitrogen use efficiencies in sub-humid Zimbabwe. (In preparation).
LANGUAGES
- English: professional
- French: bilingual
- Arabic: native language
- Spanish and Turkish: elementary
Operating systems
- GNU/Linux
- MacOS
- MS Windows
Additional information
- Representative of non-titular staff at the UPR AIDA
- Representative of non-titular staff at the UMR SAS
- Master’s grant, GAT program, CIHEAM-IAMM (2019)
- Driving license B (since 2013)
Interests
Football | travel and long journeys | North African and Mediterranean cuisine.