Energetic analysis of landrace varieties and hybrids of corn produced in different technological levels of management

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze, under the energetic point of view, the cultivation of corn in three management systems (low, medium and high-tech), using two landrace varieties ('Argentino' and 'BR da Várzea'), a double hybrid cultivar (SHS 4080) and a simple hybrid (IAC 8333). Five performance indicators were used: energy efficiency, liquid cultural energy, cultural efficiency, energy balance and productive energy efficiency. From the perspective of family farming, it was verified the largest social importance of the systems under low and medium levels of technology, due to the increase employment capacity of rural labor. The liquid cultural energy and energy balance were more favorable for the system under high technological level, unlike cultural efficiency and productive energy efficiency, which were significantly higher for medium and low technological levels. The variety 'Argentino' showed lower productive energy efficiency. The variety 'BR da Várzea', on the other hand, presented the potential to generate energy as much as the hybrids. In general, the biggest sustainability in the corn crop was achieved when the management system under medium and lower levels of technology were used.

Environmental assessment of maize production alternatives: Traditional, intensive and GMO-based cropping patterns

“…Maize grown in the milpa stage of Lacandon Maya system-Mexico (average of 6 systems) (afterDiemont et al, 2006)-NR is consistent with geographic area; (2) AfterAraujo et al (2013), low intensity; (3) No-GMO maize cultivated in the northern part of Argentina's pampas region during 1986/87 with conventional tillage (this study); (4) No-GMO maize cultivated in the northern part of Argentina's pampas region during 1995/96 with conservationist tillage (this study); (5) AfterAraujo et al (2013), high intensity; (6) afterPimentel (2006); (7) no-GMO maize cultivated in USA (afterPimentel et al, 1988)-rainfall is consistent with Nebraska region; (8) no-GMO maize cultivated in Brazil during 2010 (afterFranzese et al, 2013); (9) no-GMO maize cultivated in Italy (afterUlgiati, 2001); (10) GMO maize cultivated in the northern part of Argentina's pampas region during 2009/10 with no-tillage (this study); (11) GMO maize cultivated in Argentina's pampas region during 2012/13 as average of the whole region (this study); (12) GMO maize seed produced in Argentina (This study, Appendix 2). No emergy assessments were available for systems 2, 5, 6, and 7: indicators have been calculated based on the original mass and energy data published by the authors referred to.…”

“…Brazil 2009. From Monte Carlos, Minas Gerais State, data was adapted from research by Araujo et al (2013). Three management systems (low, medium and high technological levels), using landraces and hybrids, were investigated by the authors.…”

“…Farmer saving seeds is one basis for contemporary concepts of savings and investments (Stein, 2005). Traditional subsistence agriculture production systems are still found in Mexico (Diemont et al, 2006) and Brazil (Araujo et al, 2013), characterized by diversity of species, family labor, and food for local consumption.…”

Desempenho agronômico de variedades crioulas de milho na região do Vale do Juruá, AC

“…As variedades BRS Caimbé e Praia do Ipixuna apresentaram menor altura, com média de 250,07 cm e 263,99 cm respectivamente. Variedades crioulas se diferenciam de genótipos melhorados morfologicamente por apresentarem arquitetura de porte alto, maior altura de inserção de espiga e maior área foliar, características que agronomicamente não são desejáveis já que aumentam a porcentagem de plantas acamadas e dominadas, além de exigir um estande mais reduzido (Araujo et al, 2013;Machado et al, 2003).…”

Energetic sustainability of three arabica coffee growing systems used by family farming units in Espírito Santo state

“…Among studied indexes, we may quote: a. total energy efficiency reverse (TEER) that matches inputs and outputs; b. energy efficiency of ripe coffee (EERC), which makes a relation of inputs and outputs up to the harvest of ripe or pulped cherries (without processing); and c. non-renewable energy efficiency (NREE) being the ratio of non-renewable inputs and outputs. Methodology used to calculate energy intake, as well as TEER, EERC and NREE, was based on literature findings (ARAUJO et al, 2013;VELOSO et al, 2012;GIANNETTI et al, 2011b;JASPER et al, 2010;ASSENHEIMER et al, 2009). Data underwent descriptive statistics by means of analysis of variance (ANOVA).…”