Energy consumption of rainfed durum wheat cultivation in a Mediterranean area using three different soil management systems

Abstract

An energy analysis comparing three different soil management systems was carried out in Southern Italy using data collected in a five-year field experiment, with the aim of identifying the most energy efficient system. On average, because of a little more energy is demanded (13.3 GJ ha−1) and a higher grain yield is obtained (2.20 t ha−1) in the Intensive practice than in the other two, the total Energy Input required to produce 1 kg durum wheat was higher in the No tillage-based system (11.05 MJ kg−1) than in the Intensive (6.80 MJ kg−1) and the Minimum one (6.78 MJ kg−1). The highest contribution to Energy Input derived from nitrogen fertiliser followed by diesel fuel. In this regard, No-tillage allowed for reduction of diesel energy consumption by about 70% and 60% compared with Intensive tillage and Minimum tillage, respectively. The Minimum tillage practice showed the best energy performance, because it determined the following results on an average base: the highest energy ratio (4.69) and the highest energy profitability (3.69); the lowest energy intensity (5.86 MJ kg−1). Therefore, under the environmental conditions in which the experimens were carried out, MT may be considered as the practice exhibiting the best energy performance and representing the viable trade-off between IT and NT.