Effects of input management and crop diversity on non-renewable energy use efficiency of cropping systems in the Canadian Prairie

Zentner, R. P.; Basnyat, Prakash; Brandt, S.A.; Thomas, A. G.; Ulrich, D.; Campbell, C. A.; Nagy, C.N.; Frick, B.; Lemke, R.; Malhi, S. S.; Fernandez, M. R.

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2010.11.004

Cited by 33 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…They also have reduced potential for nitrate leaching (Malhi et al 2009) and tend to be more efficient in their energy use and produce lower levels of GHG emissions (Zentner et al 2011b). Including legumes in rotation may have a relatively large impact on GHG emissions and energy use due to biological nitrogen (N) fixation (BNF) and the accompanying reduction in N fertilizer requirements (Asgedom and Kebreab 2011).…”

Section: Crop Selection and Crop Rotationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Organic systems promote biodiversity in a wide range of faunal groups including arthropods, soil biota, and farmland birds, with some direct enhancement of ecosystem services such as pest predation and pollination (Morandin and Winston 2005;Crowder et al 2010;Garratt et al 2011;Power et al 2012;Winqvist et al 2012). Organic systems have lower ecological footprints (Bavec et al 2012), have increased energy efficiency (Hoeppner et al 2006;Zentner et al 2011b), and enhance a number of soil and nutrient parameters such as soil C and nutrient retention (Pimentel et al 2005). Increased soil organic matter in organic systems can also contribute to improved crop yield in years of moisture deficiency (Stukenholtz 2002;Lotter et al 2003).…”

Section: Organic Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

2015

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Thiessen Martens, J. R., Entz, M. H. and Wonneck, M. D. 2015. Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1049Á1072. Redesign of agricultural systems according to ecological principles has been proposed for the development of sustainable systems. We review a wide variety of ecologically based crop production practices, including crop varieties and genetic diversity, crop selection and rotation, cover crops, annual polyculture, perennial forages, perennial grains, agroforestry systems, reducing tillage, use of animal manures and green manures, soil biological fertility, organic production systems, integrated cropÁlivestock systems, and purposeful design of farm landscapes (farmscaping), and discuss their potential role in enhancing the profitability, environmental sustainability, and resilience of Canadian prairie cropping systems. Farming systems that most closely mimic natural systems through appropriate integration of diverse components, within a context of supportive social and economic structures, appear to offer the greatest potential benefits, while creating a framework in which to place all other farming practices. Our understanding of ecological relationships within agricultural systems is currently lacking, and a major shift in research, education, and policy will be required to purposefully and proactively redesign Canadian prairie agricultural systems for long-term sustainability.

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Section: Crop Selection and Crop Rotationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Organic Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

2015

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“…El aporte creciente de energía fósil a la producción agrícola ha cobrado renovada atención no sólo porque se trata de un recurso limitado que debe ser conservado para las futuras generaciones, sino también porque el mayor consumo de combustible en la agricultura, y el consecuente incremento en la emisión de dióxido de carbono a la atmósfera, ha sido relacionado con el calentamiento global del planeta (Tzilivakis et al, 2005). Por lo tanto, un uso eficiente de la energía es una importante condición que hace a la sustentabilidad de los sistemas agrícolas (Altieri y Nicholls, 2000;Tzilivakis et al, 2005;Gliessman et al, 2007;Deike et al, 2008, Zentner et al, 2011.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Análisis Energético De Cuatro Secuencias De Cultivo en La Provincia De Buenos Aires, Argentina

Chamorro

Golik

Bezus

et al. 2016

Chil. j. agric. anim. sci.

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RESUMENEl uso de la energía fósil en la agricultura es importante porque es un recurso escaso, no renovable, que debe ser conservado para las generaciones futuras, y su consumo se ha relacionado con el calentamiento global del planeta. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar los flujos de energía y evaluar el balance de energía (BE) y la eficiencia energética (EE) de cuatro secuencias ( ) pero el BE y la EE fueron mayores en la primera por las mejores condiciones meteorológicas. Los resultados mostraron diferentes flujos energéticos, BE y EE en las secuencias evaluadas. La EE fue elevada (9,4-17,2) decreciendo en el orden cebada/soja-trigo/soja-avena/soja-colza/soja. La adaptación agroecológica diferencial de los cultivos y el "efecto antecesor" sobre la soja explicarían las diferencias. El manejo tecnológico tuvo menor influencia sobre las variables energéticas que los cultivos que componen la secuencia y las condiciones de crecimiento. El mejor comportamiento lo registró la secuencia cebada/ soja, que logra alta EE y BE con gastos energéticos poco más altos que las otras secuencias. Se considera importante evaluar integralmente estas opciones productivas incorporando otros indicadores de sustentabilidad ecológica así como aspectos económicos y sociales de la sustentabilidad.Palabras clave: avena, soja, cebada, colza, trigo, rotación de cultivos, eficiencia energética. ABSTRACTThe use of fossil energy in agriculture is an important issue. In fact, fossil energy is a scarce and non-renewable resource, which needs to be preserved for future generations but whose consumption has been linked to global warming. The aim of this work was to analyze the energy flows and evaluate the energy balance (BE) and energy efficiency (EE) of four crop sequences (rotations): oat (Avena sativa L.)/soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), barley (Hordeum distichun L.)/soybean , rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)/soybean, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/soybean, produced under two different levels of technological management in Buenos Aires (Argentina). Incoming energy to crop sequences was similar in the two seasons evaluated (13.8 GJ ha -1 ) but BE and EE were greater in the first season due to better meteorological conditions. Results showed different energy flows, BE and EE in the evaluated sequences. Energy efficiency was high (9.4-17.2) and values decreased gradually for barley/

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“…There has been expanded interest in recent years in evaluating the E efficiency of the entire food chain at national levels [127][128][129] along with comparative studies of E efficiency of farming systems [24,113,[130][131][132][133][134][135]. Farm E use often exceeds 50% of total food chain E use [128].…”

Section: Energy Use and Global Warming Potentialmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The quality of the studies further strengthens confidence in this conclusion. For example, in Canada, Zentner et al [135] recently published the results of their 12-year study from Scott, Saskatchewan, comparing nine cropping systems varying in input management and crop diversity with respect to non-renewable E use. The authors conclude that their results support the 'current movement of producers toward organic management as a means of reducing the reliance on nonrenewable E inputs and improving the overall E use efficiency of their cropping systems'.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts of organic agriculture in temperate regions.

Lynch

Halberg²,

Bhatta³

et al. 2012

CABI Reviews

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Can organic agriculture elaborate a scientifically based, resource-efficient and agroecological approach to low-input farm management? This review examines the literature from temperate regions, with a particular emphasis on Canadian and US studies that relate to environmental and ecological impacts of organic agriculture with respect to (i) soil organic matter storage, (ii) soil quality/soil health, (iii) nutrient loading and risks of off-farm nutrient and agrochemical losses, (iv) biodiversity and (v) energy use and global warming potential. The context and implications of semi-arid conditions and low soil P levels, common to many organic farms in North America, and widespread adoption of genetically engineered crops in conventional production, is also considered. The consensus of the data available to date indicates the distinctiveness of cropping, floral and habitat diversity, soil management regime, nutrient intensity and use efficiency, and energy, and pesticide use in organic farming confer important environmental and ecological benefits. These include maintenance of soil organic matter and added return of carbon to soil, improved soil health, reduced off-farm nitrogen and phosphorus losses, enhanced vegetative and wildlife (bird) biological diversity, extended sometimes to other taxa depending on landscape context, improved support for pollinators and pollination and reduced energy use and improved energy efficiency. The continued evolution of organic agriculture to a more outcomes-based, agroecological production system will require an expanded multi-disciplinary research effort, linked ideally to support from consumers and policy-makers on the basis of renewed understanding of its potential contribution to global environmental sustainability.

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Effects of input management and crop diversity on non-renewable energy use efficiency of cropping systems in the Canadian Prairie

Cited by 33 publications

References 29 publications

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

Análisis Energético De Cuatro Secuencias De Cultivo en La Provincia De Buenos Aires, Argentina

Environmental impacts of organic agriculture in temperate regions.

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