Reducing Fossil Energy Use on the Farm

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Conventional production agriculture relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly in its ability to provide high yields at low labor costs. However, the uncertain future of fossil fuel availability and prices point to a need to explore energy efficiencies of alternative cropping systems. Although more labor intensive, low-input cropping could substantially reduce dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining comparable yields.

Most of the U.S. Corn Belt relies on a 2-year rotation of corn and soybean with heavy inputs of fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides derived from fossil fuels to achieve high yields while keeping costs low.

To better understand energy inputs in all cropping systems, Matt Liebman, Michael Cruse, and their colleagues at Iowa State University conducted a six-year study to compare energy use of a conventionally managed corn–soybean system (a two-year rotation) with two low input cropping systems that used more diverse rotations and manure, but substantially lower quantities of nitrogen fertilizer and herbicides. The study will be published in May-June issue of Agronomy Journal, published by the American Society of Agronomy.

The two low-input systems, which use lower levels of purchased inputs such as fertilizer and fuel, consisted of a three-year rotation of corn–soybean–small grain/red clover and a four-year rotation of corn–soybean–small grain/alfalfa–alfalfa.

Much more at: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/6389