Composite indicator of land, water and energy for measuring agricultural sustainability at micro level, Barddhaman District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

Agro-ecosystem is an open system that represents a complex interaction with the environment in term of energy transformation. Growing human population and resultant demand for greater output are increasing the rate of energy flow in agro-ecosystem to facilitate more energy transformation, which is deteriorating different compartment of ecosystem and environment. This paper intends to analyse agricultural sustainability at micro level by developing a composite indicator of land, water and energy used for crop production. Cropland footprint (CF), water footprint (WF) and entropy overproduction (Eop) are selected as indicators of land, water and energy respectively with the objective to explore man-land interaction by CF, while WF and Eop represent the impact of that interaction. In the study area, cropland surplus or deficit is inversely related with WF and Eop. Surplus crops like paddy and potato have higher WF and Eop, hence are responsible for agricultural unsustainability. WF and Eop are highest for paddy (8912 m3/ha) and potato (117,565 MJ/ha) respectively. Grey water footprint (WFc,grey) is the highest for potato (3708 m3/ha). Pulses (with negative Eop of −9124 MJ/ha) are proved the most sustainable crop with the highest potentiality to boost agro-ecosystem sustainability. The results derived from the analysis indicate that increasing use of chemicals and more specialization of water and energy exhaustive crops are reducing agricultural sustainability. The study also suggests for necessary transformations of cropping pattern with special emphasis on incorporation of pulses, oilseeds etc. and non-productive energy investment to reinstall natural quality of agro-ecosystem, not only in the studied areas, but also in other areas facing similar site and situation.