Energy analysis of the tillage systems in second crop corn production


Creative Commons License

OZTURK H. H., EKINCI K., Barut Z. B.

JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, vol.28, no.3, pp.25-37, 2006 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 28 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2006
  • Doi Number: 10.1300/j064v28n03_04
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.25-37
  • Keywords: corn production, tillage systems, energy analysis, SOIL, WHEAT
  • Çukurova University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The aim of this experiment, to examine the energy input and Output in the second crop corn production using four different tillage systems for soil preparation: (1) minimum tillage with stubble (MTS), (2) minimum tillage without stubble (MT), (3) conventional tillage with stubble (CTS), and (4) conventional tillage without stubble (CT). Corn was sown as a second crop just after harvest of wheat. Direct and indirect energy inputs consisting of machinery, fertilizers, seeds, irrigations and chemicals were converted into energy units according to their amounts being consumed. The machinery and fuel energy inputs for the tillage operation were reduced 53.7% with MT compared to CTS. The total energy input for producing corn utilizing CTS was 20,608 MJ/ha, compared to 19,102 MJ/ha for producing corn with MT. When the grain yield was taken into account, the energy output/input ratios for MTS, MT, CTS and CT were estimated to be 6.3, 7.6, 6.6 and 7.0, respectively. The tillage systems did not statistically affect uniformity of plant spacing, but statistically affected the yield. The grain yield was the greatest (8,719 kg/ha) in CT compared to the other tillage treatments.