Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Economics of Annual Crop Management Systems

Abstract

"The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative economic profitability and net greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement potential of alternative tillage and cropping systems. A simulation model was parameterized using biophysical and economic data representing different crop rotations under conventional, minimum, and zero tillage cropping systems, in the Black soil zone of Saskatchewan. This model was used to estimate the relative potential of each of the management practices to sequester carbon and to emit GHG including, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. The model also provided estimates of the relative profitability of each of the management practices over time horizons of 30 years. These simulation results were used to develop trade-off functions reflecting net income and net GHG abatement for each cropping system. An income risk measure was incorporated to facilitate an analysis of the relative economic attractiveness of the simulated cropping systems. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was performed on nitrous oxide emission coefficients (an area of significant uncertainty in the literature) and on weather patterns to reflect uncertain future climate change impacts. Results indicated that net GHG emissions were relatively lower for reduced tillage management, while conventional tillage may be relatively more attractive from an economic perspective. However, results also indicated that such economic factors as risk and economies of size may have a significant influence on this latter result." Copyright 2005 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.

Fall tillage of eroded sod-podzolic soil

“…Although deep tillage of 30 cm alone, with the same yield as compared with basic surface tillage, was ineffective against perennial weeds [12]. As for evaluation of the economic component of tillage methods, some authors say that minimal and zero tillage providing an average yield increase by 18% give lower average annual net income due to high costs of agricultural equipment and herbicides compared to conventional tillage [13]. Other authors, comparing the minimal tillage, moldboard plowing, deep chisel plowing and mulching, note the absence of any significant differences in the studied parameters including crop yields but low cost value of minimal tillage determines its advantage [14].…”