Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.D. of crop ecology, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2
professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural. University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
3
professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
Agriculture and the production of resource-intensive crops, such as corn, account for a significant portion of energy consumption and adverse environmental effects. This study was conducted with the aim of examining energy and environmental indices, as well as the influential factors affecting them, in Alborz Province. In this regard, all necessary information was collected from the research farm and other corn (grain and Silage) producers, including all inputs used per hectare in each cultivation system. The approach of this study was life cycle assessment, and the methodology was based on ReCiPe 2016. The results indicated that the input energy for corn (grain and Silage) was 30029.63 and 24378.87 MJ. ha-1, respectively. Meanwhile, the output energy in these systems was 142590 and 277380 MJ. ha-1, revealing a higher net energy gain in Silage corn cultivation. The energy ratio for grain corn and Silage was 4.75 and 11.38, respectively. The largest share of environmental emissions, such as global warming and human health damages, was associated with chemical nitrogen fertilizers and diesel fuel. Additionally, grain corn, with its higher input consumption, contributed more to damages to human health, the environment, and resources. To improve the energy ratio and reduce adverse environmental effects, optimizing the use and production of inputs based on precision agriculture and enhancing agricultural performance through integrated and sustainable management should be prioritized.
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