Energy budgeting and greenhouse gas emission under different cropping sequences in the North Western Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors:   Division of Cropping Systems and Resource Management, ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh -250 110, India, Meena L. R. , Kumar Devendra ,   Division of Organic Agriculture Systems,ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, Uttar Pradesh -250 110, India, Kochewad S. A. ,   School of Soil Stress Management (SSSM), ICAR- National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Malegam, Baramati, Pune, Maharashtra- 413 115, India, Anjali  ,   Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan- 302033, India
Published: November 2024

This study is meant to examine the energy requirement and energy input-output of different cropping sequences. The crucial objective is to conduct experiments to understand energy efficiency using inputs and outputs that were disbursed in cropping sequences. Hence, it is the need of the hour to identify the most remunerative and cost- effective cropping sequence with high-energy efficiency for UGP of India. This study was carried out at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research, Modipuram, during 2017-2021. The divergent cropping sequences viz. sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (CS1); rice-wheat-dhaincha (CS2); pigeonpea + maize- chickpea-okra (CS3); maize-berseem-black gram (CS4); sorghum-mustard-green gram (CS5), and Napier+cowpea/berseem (CS6) were compared in reference to curtail higher energy inputs through selected alternate cropping sequences. The obtained energy values were calculated by multiplying the amount of inputs and outputs by using energy conversion factors. Maximum input energy consumed by sugarcane crop alone (33.14×103MJ ha-1). Results showed that irrigation, seed, fertilizers, and diesel required higher energy for the completion of cultural operations. However, higher input energy was used in irrigation followed by seed and fertilizers, respectively. In regard to percent energy intake through inputs, the highest energy spent was for irrigation (35.30 MJha-1) and fertilizer (23.80 MJha-1). The wheat equivalent yield was higher in sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (125.58tha-1). Maximum output energy was with the above system (596.70×103MJha-1). The highest net energy returns were counted with sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (549.37×103MJha-1), energy ratio (12.60), and energy profitability (11.60). Indeed, energy efficiency was highest in the same system (1657.50) followed by maize-berseem-black gram (1421.96). Maximum output energy was with the above system (596.70×103MJ ha-1). Highest net energy returns was counted with sugarcane-ratoon-wheat (549.37×103MJ ha-1), energy ratio (12.60) and energy profitability (11.60). Indeed, energy efficiency was highest in the same system (1657.50) followed by maize-berseem-black gram (1421.96). The greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) was highest in case of cereal based cropping sequence (1304 kg CO2-e) followed by rice-wheat system (641 kg CO2-e). However, minimum GHG emission was ascertained under fodder based and pulses based-cropping sequence like Napier +cowpea/ berseem (33 kg CO2-e) and Pigeonpea+ maize- chickpea- okra than other cropping sequences. In nutshell, it is inferenced that improved energy efficiency suggests the adoption of alternate cropping sequences to reduce inputs energy without much loses of output energy and these systems shall be reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture fields.