Evaluating energy flow and greenhouse gas emissions in rainfed wheat production

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Staff Board Member, Dept. of Agricultural Engineering Research, Semnan, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shahrood, Iran

Abstract

Excessive consumption of energy in Iran resulted greenhouse gas emissions and related risks to the environment and human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tillage and cultivation of wheat (including conventional farming, reduced tillage and direct seeding) on energy consumption and environmental pollution in the Kalpoosh region of Semnan province. Data were collected through interviews in 30 typical fields of wheat production. Data were analyzed with regard to inputs consumption, inputs energy and greenhouse gas emissions from the consumed energy and tillage method. Total inputs energy from the consumed inputs varied between 13900 to 18713 MJ ha-1. Results indicated that in conventional method, fuel consumption had the most share of energy input (37.8 % of total) followed by Nitrogen (26.5%) and seed (17.4%), respectively. Nitrogen had the most share of energy input in reduced tillage (31.7%) and direct seeding (35.7%). Maximum and minimum of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O) were related to conventional seeding (11713 kg equivalent CO2 ha-1) and  direct seeding ( 2721 kg equivalent CO2 ha-1.), respectively. Wheat yield differences in three methods wasn’t significant, maximum and minimum of wheat yield related to reduced tillage, direct seeding, respectively. Maximum and minimum of economical productivity belonged to direct seeding (0.21) and conventional tillage (0.16), respectively. It can be concluded that using conservation tillage (reduced tillage and direct seeding), without a significant decrease in the yield of wheat, reduced fuel consumption, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, and increased energy efficiency and economical productivity.

Keywords


Abbasi, F., Saadat-Fard, M. and Khalil-Alemi, A. 2009. Investigating the effect of various tillage methods on soil physical properties. Proceedings of the 5th National Conference on Agricultural Machinery Engineering & Mechanization. August 27-28. Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian).##Ajashirchy, Y., Taki, M., Abdi, R., Qobadifar, A. and Ranjbar, E. 2011. Evaluation of energy consumption efficiency in wheat production by DEA. (A case study: Seylakhor field). Journal of Agricultural Machinery Engineering 1 (2): 122-132. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Almassi, M., Kiani, S. and Lovimi, N. 2008. Principles of  agricultural mechanization (4th ed.). Jungle Publications International. (In Persian).##Bonari, E., Mazzoncini, M. and Peruzzi, A. 1995. Effect of conservation and minimum tillage on winter oilseed rape in a sandy soil. Soil Tillage Research 33: 91-108.##Borin,  M., Merini,  C. and  Sartori, L. 1997. Effects of tillage systems on energy and carbon balance in north-eastern Italy. Soil Tillage Research 40: 209-226.##Canakci, M., Topakci, M., Akinci, I. and Ozmerzi, A. 2005. Energy use pattern of some field crops and vegetable production: Case study for Antalya region, Turkey. Energy Conversion and Management 46: 655-666.##Department of the Environment (DE). 2014. National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors. Australian National Greenhouse Accounts. Available at: www.environment.gov.au.##Diepenbrock, D. 2001. A method of energy balancing in crop production and its application in a long term fertilizer trial. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 86 (3): 303- 321.##Ekwere, G. E. and Edem, I. D. 2014. Evaluation of agricultural credit facility in agricultural production and rural development. Global Journal of Human Social Science 14 (3): 19-26.##Eshaqbeigi, A. 2009. Tillage energy saving with moldboard plough replacing on wheat production. Proceedings of the 5th National Conference on Agricultural Machinery Engineering & Mechanization. August 27-28. Mashhsad, Iran. (In Persian).##Feyzbakhsh, M. T. and Soltani, A. 2013. Energy flow and global warming potential of corn farm (Gorgan City). Electronic Journal of Crop Production 6 (2): 89-107. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Geraghty, J. 2008. Sustainable crop production and climate change - reducing emissions in the Irish arable sector. Proceedings of 3th Conference of Greening of Irish Agriculture. Institute of International and European Affairs. Dublin Castle, Ireland.##Haj-Seyed-Hadi, M. R. 2012. Energy efficiency of potato crop in major production regions of Iran. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Science 4 (2): 51-53.##Hatirli, S., Ozkan, B. and Fert, C. 2006. Energy inputs and crop yield relationship in greenhouse tomato production, Renewable Energy 31: 427-438.##Hemmat,  A.  and  Mossadeghi, M. R. 2001. Tillage for production in low rainfall area. Research, Education and agricultural extension organization.##Hussaini, Y. I. 2011. Energy inputs and crop yield relationship for sesame production in North Central Nigeria.  Journal of Agricultural Technology 7 (4): 907-914.##IEA. 2009. World energy outlook. Paris, France. www.iea.org.##Khalili-Araqi, M., Sharzehee, G. H. and Barkhordari, S. 2013. Analysis of Co2 emission due to energy consumption in Iran. Environmental Sciences  38 (61): 93-104. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Kitani. O. C. 1998. Handbook of agricultural engineering. Vol. 5. Energy and biomass engineering. ASAE publication.##Mehrabi-Boshrabadi, H. and Esmaaeli, A. 2012. Analysis of energy input-output in Iran agriculture. Agricultural Economy & Extension 19: 74. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Merino A., Perez-Batallon P. and  Macıas F. 2004. Responses of soil organic matter and greenhouse gas fluxes to soil management and land use changes in a humid temperate region of southern Europe. Soil Biology and Biochemical 36: 917-925.##Mirhaji, H., Khojastehpoor, M. and Abaspoor-Fard, M. H. 2014. Evaluation of environmental impacts of wheat production in Marvdasht of Iran. Publication Surrounding  Life Natural. Natural Sources Journal of Iran 66 (2): 223-232. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Mohammadi,  A. and Omid,  M. 2010. Economical analysis  and relation between energy inputs and yield of greenhouse cucumber production in Iran. Applied Energy 87: 191-196.##Moolayee, K., Keyhani, A. and Karimi, A. 2008. Energy ratio in rainfed  wheat (A case study: Oqlid county of Fars). Biosystem Engineering Journal of Iran 39 (1): 13-19. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Moitzi, G., Szalay, T., Schuller, M., Wagentristl, H., Refenner, K., Weingartmann, H., Liebhard, P., Boxberger, J. and Gronauer, A. 2013. Effects of tillage systems and mechanization on work time, fuel and energy consumption for cereal cropping in Austria. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal 15: 94-101.##Mrini, M., Senhaji, F. and Pimentel, D. 2002. Energy analysis of sugar beet production under traditional and intensive farming systems and impact on sustainable agriculture in Morocco. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture 20 (4): 5-27.##Neugschwandtner, R. W.,  Kaul, H. P.,  Liebhard, P. and  Wagentristl, H. 2015. Winter wheat yields in a long-term tillage experiment under Pannonian climate conditions. Plant and Soil Environment  61 (4): 145-150.##Noor-Mohammadi, J., Moolayee, K., Almassi, M. and Borqeae, A. M. 2014. Evaluation of energy indexes and their effects on irrigated wheat production (Neyriz of Fars). Proceeding of the 2th National Conference on Agricultural Machinery and Mechanization of Iran. January 29-30. Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian).##Pandey, D. and Agrawal,M. 2014. Greenhouse gas emissions from rice crop with different tillage permutations in rice-wheat system. Agricultural Ecosystem and Environment 59: 133-144.##Pandey, D., Agrawal, M. and Bohra, J. S. 2013. Impact of four tillage permutations in rice-wheat system on GHG performance of wheat cultivation through carbon foot printing. Ecological Engineering 178: 135-160.##Pimentel, D. 1999. Energy inputs in production agriculture. In: Fluck, R. C. (Ed.). Energy in Farm Production. Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. pp: 13-29.##Pinstrup-Andersen, P. 1999. Towards ecologically sustainable world food production. Vol. 22.  UNEP  Industry  and Environment, United Nations Environment Programs, Paris.##Rajabi, M. H., Soltani, A. Vahidnia, B., Zeinal, E. and Soltani, E. 2011. Evaluation of  fuel  consumption in wheat  fields in Gorgan, Iran. Environmental Sciences 9 (2): 143-164. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Rajabi, M. H., Soltani, A. Zeinal, E. and Soltani, E. 2012. Evaluation of greenhouse gas emission and global warming potential in wheat production in Gorgan, Iran. Electronic Journal of Crop Production 5 (3): 23-44. (In Persian with English Abstract).##Razzaqi, M. H., Khad-Alhoseini, N. and Jovkar, L. 2008. Studying the effect of tillage reducing on energy consumption forage corn production. Proceedings of the 2nd National Congress of Ecological Agriculture. Tehran, Iran. (In Persian).##Reicosky, D. C. and Lindstorm, M. J. 1993. Fall tillage method: Effect of short-term carbon dioxide flux from soil. Agricultural Journal 85: 1237-1243.##Safa, M. and Tabatabaeefar, A. 2008. Energy consumption in wheat production in irrigated and dryland farming. Proceeding of the International Agriculture Engineering Conference. November 28-30. Wuxi, China.##Singh, H., Singh, A. K. and Kushwaha, L. 2007. Energy consumption pattern of wheat production in India. Journal of Energy 32: 1848-1854.##Strapatsa, A. V., Nanos, G. D. and Tsatsarelis, C. A. 2006. Energy flow for integrated apple production in Greece.  Agricultural Ecosystem and Environment 116: 176-180.##Ulger, P., Kayisoglu, B. and Selcuk, A. 1993. Effect of different tillage methods on sunflower and some soil properties and energy consumption of these tillage methods. Agriculture Mechanization in Asia, Africa and Latin America 24: 59- 62.##Tipi, T., Cetin, B. and Vardar, A. 2009. An analysis of energy use and input costs for wheat production in Turkey. Journal of Agriculture and Environment 7: 352-356.##Yosefi, M., Mahdavi-Damghani, A., Khosh-bakht, K. and Veish, H. 2009. Studying the efficiency of ecosystems energy in irrigated wheat production in Kangavar. Proceedings of the 1th Iranian Crop Science Congress. July 23-25. Tehran, Iran. (In Persian).##Zahedi, M., Eshghizadeh, H. R., and Mondani, F. 2014. Energy use efficiency and economical analysis in cotton production systems in an arid region: A Case Study for Isfahan Province, Iran. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy 4 (1): 43-52.