Evaluation of energy balances and greenhouse gas emissions from different agricultural production systems in Minqin Oasis, China

Agricultural production in Minqin Oasis, China, is commonly categorized as intensive crop production (ICP), integrated crop-livestock production (ICLP), intensive livestock production (confined feeding) (IFLP), and extensive livestock production (grazing) (EGLP). The objectives of the present study were to use a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the on farm energy balances and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of agricultural production, and to compare the differences among the four systems. 529 farmers in eight towns of Minqin Oasis were selected to complete a face-to-face questionnaire. AVONA analysis of the average data from 2014 to 2015 indicated that the net energy ratio (Output/Input) for the EGLP system was significantly higher than for each of the other three systems (P < 0.01), whereas the differences among the other systems were not significant. However, the EGLP system generated lower CO2-eq emissions per hectare of farmland than each of the three other systems (P < 0.01). Relating carbon economic efficiency to market values (Chinese currency, ¥) of agricultural products, indicated that the carbon economic efficiency (¥/kg CO2-eq/farm) of the IFLP system was significantly greater than that of the three other systems (P < 0.01). The net energy ratios of alfalfa (4.01) and maize (2.63) were significantly higher than the corresponding data of the other crops (P < 0.01). All of the emission sources data for ICP, ICLP, IFLP, and EGLP, when related to the contribution of GHG emissions, showed fertilizer, enteric methane emissions, and plastic mulch, contributed the highest proportions of GHG emissions of all production categories. The path models showed that class of livestock was strongly linked to economic income. The direct effects and total effects of water use efficiency, via their positive influence on energy balances and GHG emissions were much stronger than those of other dependent variables. In conclusion, the present study provides benchmark information on the factors for energy balances and GHG emissions for agricultural production systems in northwestern China.

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Evaluation of energy balances and greenhouse gas emissions from different agricultural production systems in Minqin Oasis, China

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.6890 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e6890

Author(s):

Zhengang Yan ◽

Wei Li ◽

Tianhai Yan ◽

Shenghua Chang ◽

Fujiang Hou

Keyword(s):

Soil Respiration ◽

Economic Efficiency ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Livestock Production ◽

Enteric Methane ◽

Energy Balances ◽

Minqin Oasis ◽

Agricultural Production Systems

Agricultural production in Minqin Oasis, China, is commonly categorized as intensive crop production (ICP), integrated crop–livestock production (ICLP), intensive livestock production (confined feeding) (IFLP), and extensive livestock production (grazing) (EGLP). The objectives of the present study were to use a life cycle assessment technique to evaluate on-farm energy balances and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of agricultural production, and to compare the differences among the four systems. Data used in the present study were collected from published literature and face-to face questionnaires from 529 farms in eight towns (two towns per production system) within Minqin county. The ANOVA of averaged data from 2014 to 2015 indicated that the net energy ratio (Output/Input) for the EGLP system was significantly higher than that for any other system (P < 0.01), whereas the difference among other three systems were not significant. The EGLP system generated lower CO2-eq emissions per hectare of farmland than other systems (P < 0.01). Relating carbon economic efficiency to market values (US$) of agricultural products, indicated that the carbon economic efficiency (US$/kg CO2-eq) of the IFLP system was significantly greater than that of other systems (P < 0.01). The major GHG emission sources varied across the systems, that is, soil respiration is the dominant source in EGLP, while the main sources in IFLP are enteric methane and manure management; in ICLP major sources are enteric methane, soil respiration and fertilizer; and in ICP are soil respiration and fertilizer. The structural equation modelling analysis showed that livestock category was strongly linked to net income. The direct effects and total effects of water use efficiency, via its positive influence on energy balances and GHG emissions were much stronger than those of other dependent variables. The study provides important benchmark information to help develop sustainable agricultural production systems on energy balances and GHG emissions in northwestern China.

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Energy Balances and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Agriculture in the Shihezi Oasis of China

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos11080781 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 781

Author(s):

Zhengang Yan ◽

Fuqin Hou ◽

Fujiang Hou

Keyword(s):

Water Use Efficiency ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Water Use ◽

Economic Efficiency ◽

Crop Production ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

The Other ◽

Energy Ratio ◽

Use Efficiency ◽

Energy Balances

The objective of this study was to evaluate the difference of crop and livestock products regarding energy balances, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon economic efficiency, and water use efficiency using a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology on farms in three sub-oases within the Shihezi Oasis of China. The three sub-oases were selected within the Gobi Desert, at Shizongchang (SZC), Xiayedi (XYD), and Mosuowan (MSW), to represent the various local oasis types: i. Oasis; ii. overlapping oasis-desert; and iii. Gobi oasis. The results indicated that crop production in XYD Oasis had higher energy balances (221.47 GJ/ha), and a net energy ratio (5.39), than in the other two oases (p < 0.01). The production of 1 kg CW of sheep in XYD Oasis resulted in significantly higher energy balances (18.31 MJ/kg CW), and an energy ratio (2.21), than in the other two oases (p < 0.01). The water use efficiency of crop production in the SZC Oasis was lower than that of the XYD and MSW oases (p < 0.05). Alfalfa production generated the lowest CO2-eq emissions (8.09 Mg CO2-eq/ha. year) and had the highest water use efficiency (45.82 MJ/m3). Alfalfa (1.18 ¥/kg CO2-eq) and maize (1.14 ¥/kg CO2-eq) had a higher carbon economic efficiency than other crops (p < 0.01). The main sources of GHG emissions for crop production were fertilizer and irrigation. The structural equation modelling (SEM) of agricultural systems in the Shihezi Oasis showed that the livestock category significantly influenced the economic income, energy, and carbon balances.

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Prospects for the development of agrarian production systems in in the Right Bank Polesie of Ukraine

Interdepartmental thematic scientific collection "Agriculture" ◽

10.31073/zem.95.69-72 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (95) ◽

pp. 69-72

Author(s):

Yu.A. Tarariko ◽

L.V. Datsko ◽

M.O. Datsko

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Production ◽

Production Systems ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Capital Investments ◽

Resource Potential ◽

Grain Processing ◽

Processing And Storage ◽

The Right ◽

And Storage ◽

Agricultural Production Systems

The aim of the work is to assess the existing and prospective models for the development of agricultural production in Central Polesie on the basis of economic feasibility and ecological balance. The evaluation of promising agricultural production systems was carried out with the help of simulation modeling of various infrastructure options at the levels of crop and multisectoral specialization of agroecosystems. The agro-resource potential of Central Polesie is better implemented in the rotation with lupine, corn and flax dolguntsem with well-developed infrastructure, including crop, livestock units, grain processing and storage systems, feed, finished products and waste processing in the bioenergetic station. The expected income for the formation of such an infrastructure is almost 8 thousand dollars. / with a payback period of capital investments of 2-3 years.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Livestock Manure Management in Southwestern Siberia, Russia

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v6n2p66 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maria Storrle ◽

Hans-Jorg Brauckmann ◽

Gabriele Broll

Keyword(s):

Environmental Pollution ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Production Systems ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Livestock Production ◽

Nitrous Oxide Emissions ◽

Forest Steppe ◽

Small Farms ◽

Tyumen Oblast

This study investigates the amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to manure handling within different livestock production systems in Tyumen oblast of Western Siberia. Tyumen oblast occupies approx. 160 000 km² of Asian taiga and forest steppe. The amount of GHGs from manure was calculated as a function of the handling according to current IPCC guidelines for ecozones and livestock production systems. The entire Tyumen oblast has annual 7 400 t methane emissions and 440 t nitrous oxide emissions from manure. Three livestock production systems are prevalent in Tyumen oblast: Mega farms, small farms and peasant farms. The share of mega farms is 81 % (171 kt CO2 eq). Additionally, the slurry system in mega farms causes environmental pollution. GHG emissions and environmental pollution could be reduced by implementing solid manure systems or pasturing, by installing storage facilities for slurry outside the stables and through application of the manure as fertiliser at mega farms. In small farms solid manure systems and a small stocking density of livestock lead to smallest GHG emissions (1 %, 3 kt CO2 eq) from manure. In peasant farming 18 % (38 kt CO2 eq) of GHGs are emitted due to pasturing.

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