Assessment of energy saving and GHG reduction of winter oilseed rape production using sustainable strip tillage and direct sowing in three tillage technologies

Abstract

GHG emissions, diesel fuel, material and working time costs are critical parameters in crop production that affect the environment and crop cultivation costs. The aim of this research was to investigate the impact of tillage technologies of different intensities and different sustainable sowing systems on the environment, working time, fuel, and energy efficiency. The studies were performed with winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), which was grown using three tillage technologies: deep ploughing (DP), stubble cultivation (SC) and no-tillage (NT), and using two sustainable sowing systems: strip tillage (ST) and direct sowing (DS). The production of winter oilseed rape was the least harmful to the environment when using NT technology, where GHG emissions were about 21.2% lower compared to DP technology. The main negative impacts on the environment were GHG emissions from agricultural machinery, diesel, and nitrogen fertilizers. The highest yield (3935 kg ha−1) and the best energy efficiency ratio (7.44) were achieved by shallow stubble cultivation using a combination of strip tillage and sowing system. The conclusion of this research is that successful combination of sustainable tillage technologies and sowing systems can ensure high productivity of winter oilseed rape, as well as good energy efficiency with significantly cleaner production of crops.