Investigations on the energy efficiency of organic and integrated farming with specific emphasis on pesticide use intensity

Deike, Stefanie; Pallutt, Bernhard; Christen, Olaf

doi:10.1016/j.eja.2007.11.009

Cited by 127 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Lower dependence on external inputs reduces the effects from scarce resources or price fluctuations (Bernué s et al, 2011). Industrial agricultural production relies largely on using non-renewable fossil fuels (Deike et al, 2008). The rising fossil fuel prices result in lower business profitability through the direct cost of energy and the purchase of other inputs for the production process that have significant energy requirements (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe

Ripoll-Bosch

Joy

Bernués

2014

Animal

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Traditional mixed livestock cereal-and pasture-based sheep farming systems in Europe are threatened by intensification and specialisation processes. However, the intensification process does not always yield improved economic results or efficiency. This study involved a group of farmers that raised an autochthonous sheep breed (Ojinegra de Teruel) in an unfavourable area of North-East Spain. This study aimed to typify the farms and elucidate the existing links between economic performance and certain sustainability indicators (i.e. productivity, self-sufficiency and diversification). Information was obtained through direct interviews with 30 farms (73% of the farmers belonging to the breeders association). Interviews were conducted in 2009 and involved 32 indicators regarding farm structure, management and economic performance. With a principal component analysis, three factors were obtained explaining 77.9% of the original variance. This factors were named as inputs/self-sufficiency, which included the use of on-farm feeds, the amount of variable costs per ewe and economic performance; productivity, which included lamb productivity and economic autonomy; and productive orientation, which included the degree of specialisation in production. A cluster analysis identified the following four groups of farms: high-input intensive system; low-input self-sufficient system; specialised livestock system; and diversified crops-livestock system. In conclusion, despite the large variability between and within groups, the following factors that explain the economic profitability of farms were identified: (i) high feed self-sufficiency and low variable costs enhance the economic performance (per labour unit) of the farms; (ii) animal productivity reduces subsidy dependence, but does not necessarily imply better economic performance; and (iii) diversity of production enhances farm flexibility, but is not related to economic performance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe

Ripoll-Bosch

Joy

Bernués

2014

Animal

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“…Energy efficiency calculated at farm level (EEf) makes it possible to assess the farm's ability to deliver the maximum energy in the form of agricultural products, with minimum recourse to non-renewable sources of energy. The EEf of cropping systems is largely dependent on the use of nitrogen fertiliser and on fuel consumption (Deike et al, 2008), while the EEf of mixed sheep-plus-crop systems is mainly linked to purchases of animal feed, fertilizers and fuel (Bochu et al, 2005;Boisdon and Benoit, 2006). The EEf is negatively correlated to non-renewable energy consumption per unit produced (meat, milk, etc.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy consumption in mixed crop-sheep farming systems: what factors of variation and how to decrease?

Benoît

Laignel

2010

Animal

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Prompted by current concerns about energy resources and greenhouse gas emissions, we sought to assess the impact of certain key factors on energy efficiency in sheep-for-meat production and to evaluate the main directions for improvement. We used a modelling approach to simulate the functioning and performances of sheep-for-meat production systems integrating an energy balance calculation module. In the first step of this study, we reconstructed system functions and technical and economic results of four typological groups of farms in plainland areas. This served as a basis for calculating their energy efficiency in order to focus on the main factors of energy efficiency, such as high levels of fodder self-sufficiency (low concentrate consumption) and high ewe productivity. The Graze system presented the highest energy efficiency (EE) for sheep unit (EEs 5 0.62) with the lowest consumption of equivalent fuel litres requirements (FuReq) per kilogram of lamb carcass produced (1.47), while the 'sheep and cash crop' system had the lowest EEs (0.36) and the highest FuReq per kg carcass (2.54). We then took the 'mixed-farming system' (a 130 ha farm, including 610 ewes and 40 ha of cropland) and studied three adaptations designed to increase the EEs: improvement of feed self-sufficiency (increased proportion of concentrate produced on-farm), introduction of legumes into the rotation (removal of bought-in nitrogen fertilisers), and production of fuel-oil (from rapeseed) with the flock using oil cakes. The most effective adaptation was the removal of the nitrogen fertilisers. The successive adaptations make it possible to cut energy consumption from 2.2 FuReq/kg carcass down to 0.98 after the optimisations, thereby increasing EEs from 0.42 to 0.93. Finally, we went on to study the energy impact of four factors influencing flock functioning and farm structure, i.e. ewe productivity, lamb weight, distances between plots, and flock size. Ewe productivity and lamb weight had a strong positive impact on EEs. When ewe productivity switched from 0.80 to 1.70, EEs increased from 0.29 to 0.48 while FuReq per kilogram carcass dropped from 3.39 to 1.88. When flock size was increased to over 1000 ewes, there were little or no energy-related economies of scale, as farm area also increased and most of the systems required more equipment.

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“…Manure and other natural nutrient resources play a key role in the success of sustainable farming systems (Deike et al, 2008). However, due to insuff icient availability, manure price is relatively high and therefore pistachio growers often rely on chemical fertilizers for fertility management.…”

Section: Energy Inputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When studying energy flow in agricultural systems, use of energy balance indicators seems to be indispensable (Deike et al, 2008). Energy productivity, intensity and efficiency are based on the sequestered energy of fuels, fertilizers, machinery, human labor, etc.…”

Section: Energy Balancementioning

confidence: 99%

Energy inputs-yield relationship and sensitivity analysis of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) production in Markazi Region of Iran

Afshar

Alipour

Hashemi

et al. 2013

Span. j. agric. res.

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Pistachio is considered as an important agricultural commodity in Iran and ranks top amongst all exported agricultural products. Conducting an overall energy audit and economic analysis of pistachio production can provide useful information to help implement management strategies for improving energy efficiency. A study was conducted during 2009 and 2010 to evaluate the overall energy inputs and outputs and to perform an economic analysis of pistachio production in the Iranian province of Markazi. The results revealed that the total energy input for pistachio production was 54305 MJ ha -1 . Electricity, followed by diesel fuel and nitrogen fertilizer application were the highest contributors to energy input in pistachio orchards. The contribution of direct energy was higher than indirect energy and share of non-renewable energy was more than renewable energy. Net energy, energy use efficiency, energy productivity and specific energy were 7522 MJ ha -1 , 0.86, 0.08 kg MJ -1 and 13.69 MJ kg -1 , respectively. Econometric model based on Cobb-Douglas function indicated that impacts of electricity, diesel fuel and chemical fertilizer energy inputs on pistachio yield were positive while the impact of machinery was negative. The marginal physical productivity (MPP) value for diesel fuel was the highest among other variables, followed by energy inputs related to the chemicals and irrigation water. The results revealed that production of pistachios in Markazi Province, under current management practices, are not energy efficient and efforts should be made to improve energy use efficiency.Additional key words: econometric model; energy use efficiency; renewable energy; sustainability.

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Investigations on the energy efficiency of organic and integrated farming with specific emphasis on pesticide use intensity

Cited by 127 publications

References 35 publications

Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe

Role of self-sufficiency, productivity and diversification on the economic sustainability of farming systems with autochthonous sheep breeds in less favoured areas in Southern Europe

Energy consumption in mixed crop-sheep farming systems: what factors of variation and how to decrease?

Energy inputs-yield relationship and sensitivity analysis of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) production in Markazi Region of Iran

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