An Assessment of Direct on-Farm Energy Use for High Value Grain Crops Grown under Different Farming Practices in Australia

Agricultural direct energy use is responsible for about 1–2% of global emissions and is the major emitting sector for methane (2.9 GtCO2eq y−1) and nitrous oxide (2.3 GtCO2eq y−1). In the last century, farm mechanisation has brought higher productivity levels and lower land demands at the expense of an increase in fossil energy and agrochemicals use. The expected increase in certain food and bioenergy crops and the uncertain mitigation options available for non-CO2 emissions make of vital importance the assessment of the use of energy and the related emissions attributable to this sector. The aim of this paper is to present a simulation framework able to forecast energy demand, technological diffusion, required investment and land use change of specific agricultural crops. MUSE-Ag & LU, a novel energy systems-oriented agricultural and land use model, has been used for this purpose. As case study, four main crops (maize, soybean, wheat and rice) have been modelled in mainland China. Besides conventional direct energy use, the model considers inputs such as fertiliser and labour demand. Outputs suggest that the modernisation of agricultural processes in China could have the capacity to reduce by 2050 on-farm emissions intensity from 0.024 to 0.016 GtCO2eq PJcrop−1 (−35.6%), requiring a necessary total investment of approximately 319.4 billion 2017$US.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Rhizobium Inoculants and Micronutrients as Technologies for Nepalese Common Bean Smallholder Farmers in the Real-World Context of Highly Variable Hillside Environments and Indigenous Farming Practices

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture9010020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 20 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Malinda Thilakarathna ◽

Tejendra Chapagain ◽

Bhawana Ghimire ◽

Roshan Pudasaini ◽

Bir Tamang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Traditional Practices ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Vegetative Biomass ◽

On Farm

Studies have shown the potential of rhizobia and associated micronutrients to enhance symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. Tens of millions of smallholder farmers, however, farm on mountain hillsides in highly variable soil and microenvironments, with different crop rotations, inputs and cultural practices. Here, on the terraces of the Nepalese Himalayas, we evaluated rhizobium inoculants (local, exotic), micronutrients (molybdenum, boron) and their combinations as technologies for smallholder farmers under highly variable microenvironments and traditional practices. The study was conducted as a series of participatory on-farm trials with 39 terrace farmers in two mid-hill districts of Nepal (Dhading, Kaski) from 2015 to 2017. Plots were measured for relevant agronomic traits. As expected, when comparing treatment plots with adjacent control plots within each farm, the results demonstrated tremendous farm-to-farm variability for nodulation, vegetative biomass, shoot nitrogen content, grain yield, and grain N content. Despite the variation observed, the data showed that the number of farms that showed yield increases from the rhizobium interventions, compared to those that suffered yield losses, was generally 2:1. We discuss potential experimental and socio-agronomic reasons for the variable results, including rainfall, which appeared critical. The results demonstrate the promise of rhizobium interventions for hillside smallholder farmers, even in a highly variable context.

Download Full-text

Energy use efficiency of on-farm- and post-pineapples production in Nigeria

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy ◽

10.1504/ijetp.2013.058148 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 175

Author(s):

S.O. Jekayinfa ◽

S.O. Afolayan ◽

A. Taiwo ◽

J.O. Popoola

Keyword(s):

Energy Use ◽

Energy Use Efficiency ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

On Farm

Download Full-text

On-Farm Rice Drying Energy Use

Applied Engineering in Agriculture ◽

10.13031/2013.26650 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 79-86

Author(s):

Lalit R. Verma ◽

Lyle Jacobsen

Keyword(s):

Energy Use ◽

Rice Drying ◽

On Farm

Download Full-text

Sistem Produksi Peternakan Sapi Potong di Pedesaan dan Strategi Pengembangannya

Jurnal Agripet ◽

10.17969/agripet.v17i1.7643 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 60-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ahmad Sodiq ◽

Suwarno Suwarno ◽

Farida Rizki Fauziyah ◽

Yusmi Nur Wakhidati ◽

Pambudi Yuwono

Keyword(s):

Corporate Social Responsibility ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Production System ◽

Feeding System ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Beef Cattle Production ◽

Corporate Social ◽

On Farm

ABSTRAK. Pendekatan penelitian pada peternakan rakyat Livestock On-Farm Trials ditujukan untuk mengidentifikasi sistem produksi peternakan sapi potong di pedesaan wilayah kabupaten yaitu Cilacap, Banyumas, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara dan Kebumen. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mendokumentasikan karakteristik sistem produksi peternakan sapi potong, strategi pengembangan untuk meningkatkan produktivitas serta dukungan pembiayaan dari bank. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan pola yang diterapkan berupa peternakan tradisional berlahan terbatas (traditional rural landless) yang terintegrasi dengan sistem pertanian utamanya tanaman padi. Sapi Peranakan Ongole (PO) sangat dominan ditemukan dan merupakan sapi lokal yang tersebar di lima kabupaten. Pada wilayah penelitian juga ditemukan Sapi Brahman Cross yang ditujukan untuk pembiakan. Penampilan produksi sapi PO, Sumba Ongole dan Persilangan Simmental untuk tujuan penggemukan memperlihatkan hasil BCS sedang sampai tinggi, tetapi produktivitas sapi Brahman Cross cenderung rendah. Diperlukan perbaikan pada feeding system and good farming practices untuk meningkatkan produktivitas sapi. Kebijakan untuk meningkatkan akses pembiayaan kredit, meliputi (i) Penguatan dinamika kelompok dan penerapan teknologi untuk memperbaiki produktivitas sapi potong, (ii) pendampingan pemerintah mengenai aspek penjaminan dan subsidi kredit, penyediaan bantuan untuk revitalisasi pertanian yang dikelola pemerintah dan perbankan, (iii) bekerjasama dengan mitra yang sesuai seperti perbankan dan BUMN untuk program Kredit Kemitraan dan Corporate Social Responsibility. (Livestock production system of beef cattle in the village and their development strategies)ABSTRACT. Livestock On-Farm Trials addressed to identify livestock system of beef cattle production in the villages of Cilacap, Banyumas, Purbalingga, Banjarnegara and Kebumen regencies. This study was designed to documenting the production system characteristics of beef cattle and development strategic of livestock production system in order to increase their productivity and financial support from bank. Beef cattle production systems characterize by traditional rural landless and integrated with crops especially rice. Ongole Cross (Peranakan Ongole) are the predominant of the local cattle and are widely distributed over the five regencies. Brahman Cross also found that are raising for cow calf operation. Performance of Peranakan Ongole, Sumba Ongole, and Simental Cross for fattening purposes were moderate to high of BCS, but low reproductive for Brahman Cross. Improving feeding system and good farming practices could be done to increase beef cattle productivity. Policies to improve access to credit financing, including (i) Strengthening of group dynamics and application of technology to improve the productivity of beef cattle,(ii) government assistance on the aspects of credit guarantee and subsidies, provision of assistance for agricultural revitalization managed by the government and banking,(iii) working with appropriate partners such as banks and BUMN for Partnership Credit and Corporate Social Responsibility programs.

Download Full-text

The human−animal relationship in dairy animals

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029920000606 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 87 (S1) ◽

pp. 47-52

Author(s):

Fabio Napolitano ◽

Andrea Bragaglio ◽

Emilio Sabia ◽

Francesco Serrapica ◽

Ada Braghieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Technologies ◽

Main Tool ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Traditional Farming ◽

Good Practices ◽

Dairy Animals ◽

Human Animal ◽

On Farm ◽

Dairy Animal

AbstractThe present study aims to identify margins for the improvement of dairy animal welfare and production based on the quality of the human−animal relationship (HAR). The main tool proposed to improve the quality of HAR in dairy animals is training of stock-people by targeting their attitude and behaviour. Given that a good quality HAR may benefit the welfare of dairy animals and productivity, new technologies, by monitoring the handling routine on farm, may be more effective in promoting good practices. In particular, the implementation of new technologies may allow identification of specific inappropriate behaviours to be targeted at stockperson level, thus increasing the efficacy of training. However, an issue related to the introduction of new technologies in the farms, particularly in those that follow traditional farming practices, is the resistance to innovation which may be encountered.

Download Full-text

143 Impacts of soil carbon sequestration on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in midwestern USA beef finishing systems

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.302 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 147-148

Author(s):

Jason Rowntree ◽

Paige Stanley ◽

David Beede ◽

Marcia DeLonge ◽

Michael Hamm

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Energy Use ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

C Sequestration ◽

Grazing Impact ◽

Mineral Supplement ◽

Soil C ◽

Continuous Grazing ◽

On Farm

Abstract Using life cycle analysis (LCA), several studies have concluded that grass-finished beef systems have greater GHG intensities than feedlot-finished (FL) beef systems. These studies evaluated only one grazing management system– continuous grazing – and assumed steady-state soil carbon (C), to model the grass-finishing environmental impact. However, by managing for more optimal forage growth and recovery, adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing can improve animal and forage productivity, potentially sequestering more soil organic carbon (SOC) than continuous grazing. To examine impacts of AMP grazing and related SOC sequestration on net GHG emissions, a comparative LCA was performed of two different beef finishing systems in the Upper Midwest, USA: AMP grazing and FL. We used on-farm data collected from the Michigan State University Lake City AgBioResearch Center for AMP grazing. Impact scope included GHG emissions from enteric methane, feed production and mineral supplement manufacture, manure, and on-farm energy use and transportation, as well as the potential C sink arising from SOC sequestration. Across-farm SOC data showed a 4-year C sequestration rate of 3.59 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in AMP grazed pastures. After including SOC in the GHG footprint estimates, finishing emissions from the AMP system were reduced from 9.62 to −6.65 kg CO2-e kg carcass weight (CW)−1, whereas FL emissions increased slightly from 6.09 to 6.12 kg CO2-e kg CW−1 due to soil erosion. This indicates that AMP grazing has the potential to offset GHG emissions through soil C sequestration, and therefore the finishing phase could be a net C sink. However, FL production required only half as much land as AMP grazing. This research suggests that AMP grazing can contribute to climate change mitigation through SOC sequestration and challenges existing conclusions that only feedlot-intensification reduces the overall beef GHG footprint through greater productivity.

Download Full-text