Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
GHG emission from agriculture
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
WHEAT
RYE
POTATOES
ONION
CARROT
TOMATOES
CABBAGE
agrotechnical operations
fertilizers
pesticides
seeds
field emissions
Figure 1. Total production of GHG emissions within growing of selected crops in conventional and organic farming
system (in kg CO 2 e per 1 kg of production) [38].
Differences between particular subgroups (Farming, Fertilizers, Pesticides, Seeds and Field
emission) can be documented as exemplified by the comparison of the cultivation of wheat
and rye in conventional and organic farming system. As stated by [31], the system sustaina‐
bility can be evaluated on the basis of inputs and outputs and their conversion to CO 2 e. Due
to higher demands for agro-technical procedures and lower yield per hectare, GHG emissions
generated in the organic farming system are with rye and wheat higher as compared with the
conventional farming system. With wheat, as it is evident from Figure 2, the values within
organic farming (0.132 CO 2 e/kg of grains) are 69.2% higher than in the conventional system
(0.078 CO 2 e/kg of grains), with rye then higher by 28.4% (conventional agriculture 0.088 CO 2 e/
kg of grains, organic farming 0,113 CO 2 e/kg of grains). The possibility of reducing GHG
emissions by changes in agricultural technology is highlighted also by [16] who identifies the
main potential for reduction within tillage. Zero-tillage systems as a tool for reduction of the
emission load is also mentioned by [31], who states that the change to zero-tillage systems can
lead to reduction of emissions of 30-35 kg C/ha per a vegetation period. Also [4] stated that the
technique of reduced (minimum) tillage which is in organic systems used more and more
frequently and with greater success supports carbon sequestration significantly.However,
unlike conventional zero-tillage systems, the organic systems with limited (minimum) tillage
do not require higher inputs of herbicides and synthetic nitrogen [42]. Parallel to the increase
of yields, the minimization measures in agricultural technology can contribute to the reduction
of emissions and thereby further to increase the environmental emission savings ensured by
the organic farming system.
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