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Interpretation :Increase in agricultural productivity with minimal energy utilization without any adverse impact on the environment is a pre-requisite of present agricultural practices through best agronomic management of crop production. The present investigation aimed to identify the most energy efficient cropping system and nutrient supply option which exert minimal impact on the environment.The experiment was carried out for two consecutive years at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi for the evaluation of soybean-based cropping systems with five nutrient supply options with respect to energy parameters, as well as carbon emission equivalents. The different inputs used in raising the crops and output of crops were converted into energy and carbon equivalents using standard conversion factors and used for computation of different energy and carbon efficiency indices.The soybean-potato-mungbean system recorded significantly highest system productivity in terms of soybean seed-equivalent yield (7.68 t ha ), however soybean-chickpea-fodder sorghum system recorded highest net energy (333.9 ×10 MJ ha ), energy efficiency (9.56), energy productivity (179 gMJ ), energy profitability (8.6 MJ ha ), human energy profitability (105.2) and energy intensiveness (6.76). Soybean-chickpea-fodder sorghum system maintained higher carbon output and carbon efficiency which was 22.9 and 15.6% higher over soybean-wheat system, respectively. Among the nutrient supply options, application of 50% RDF + 50% RDN through FYM accounted for the highest energy output (286.1 MJ ha ), net energy (240.3 MJ ha ) and energy output efficiency (968 MJ ha day ) and also reduced the carbon flux to the atmosphere as compared to 100% RDF. The cropping system followed and sources of nutrient supply had considerable impact on utilization of energy, as well as carbon emission equivalents. Therefore, besides looking only upon productivity of a particular cropping system and management level, their relative energy efficiency and resultant impact on the environment should also be taken into consideration for ensuring judicious use of nonrenewable resources.
Purpose. Mine and quarry operators determine blasting efficiency by the sizes of fragments, while regulatory agencies evaluate the same from the level of environmental discomfort. Thus, a conflict of interest exists. This research distinguishes fragmentation efficiency from blasting efficiency. It proposes a new approach for evaluating blasting efficiency to break the conflict of interests between the quarry operators and the regulatory agencies. Methods. Five blasting events in the FYS granite aggregate quarry have been studied, and design parameters have been obtained. As an indicator of blast-induced environmental discomfort, vibrations and air blasts are measured using a seismograph. The WipFrag desktop and Kuz-Ram model are used to assess the resulting fragmentations. Blasting efficiency is evaluated as a function of fragmentation and environmental constraints. Findings. The powder factor affects the fragment size distribution and the environmental hazards of blasting but in a conflicting manner. Increased powder factor enhances good fragmentation but results in further environmental discomfort. Blast event 4 has the highest fragmentation efficiency of 46.53%, while 3 has the highest environmental control efficiency of 69.47%. Cumulatively, blast event 4 has the highest overall blasting efficiency of 45.43%. Future research is expected to standardise this novel approach and incorporate more blasting effects. Originality. This work is the first attempt to quantify the efficiency of blasting operations in the aggregate quarry by combining the fragmentation produced and the resulting environmental hazards in a single model. Practical implications. The model proposed in this research can be adopted by quarry operators and regulatory agencies for sustainable quarrying and mining to address identified conflicts of interest between them.
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