Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn
The exploitation of natural resources for agriculture is growing to fulfill the demand for food, which requires the rational use of inputs for sustainable production. Brazilian agricultural production stands out on the international scene. For instance, corn is one of the most exported products in B...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | AgriEngineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/2/32 |
| _version_ | 1827663241832038400 |
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| author | Rodolfo Michelassi Silber Thiago Libório Romanelli |
| author_facet | Rodolfo Michelassi Silber Thiago Libório Romanelli |
| author_sort | Rodolfo Michelassi Silber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The exploitation of natural resources for agriculture is growing to fulfill the demand for food, which requires the rational use of inputs for sustainable production. Brazilian agricultural production stands out on the international scene. For instance, corn is one of the most exported products in Brazil, which is possible through the planting in the second crop season within a year, called the “off-season”. In addition to being a technique that allows soil conservation, it also reduces the use of inputs and soil tillage. The agricultural production systems require a large amount of energy throughout their processes, mainly through inputs and fuels. Energy flows allow for the identification of the efficiency of the production system and, consequently, its sustainability. Indicators regarding net energy gain per area (Energy balance) and energy profitability (Energy Return on Investment) were applied. The first-season system presented higher energy demand when compared to the second-season system, with a difference of 10.24 GJ ha<sup>−1</sup> between the conventional ones and 10.47 GJ ha<sup>−1</sup> between the transgenic ones. However, the indicators showed higher energy efficiency in the transgenic off-season corn production, in which the return on energy was 55% higher, and the energy incorporation was 35% lower when compared to conventional first-season corn. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:40:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e42601431844db085b546b62c667010 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-7402 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:40:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AgriEngineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e42601431844db085b546b62c6670102023-11-23T15:08:33ZengMDPI AGAgriEngineering2624-74022022-06-014248348810.3390/agriengineering4020032Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic CornRodolfo Michelassi Silber0Thiago Libório Romanelli1Department of Biosystems Engineering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, C.P., Piracicaba 09-13418-900, SP, BrazilDepartment of Biosystems Engineering, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo/ESALQ, C.P., Piracicaba 09-13418-900, SP, BrazilThe exploitation of natural resources for agriculture is growing to fulfill the demand for food, which requires the rational use of inputs for sustainable production. Brazilian agricultural production stands out on the international scene. For instance, corn is one of the most exported products in Brazil, which is possible through the planting in the second crop season within a year, called the “off-season”. In addition to being a technique that allows soil conservation, it also reduces the use of inputs and soil tillage. The agricultural production systems require a large amount of energy throughout their processes, mainly through inputs and fuels. Energy flows allow for the identification of the efficiency of the production system and, consequently, its sustainability. Indicators regarding net energy gain per area (Energy balance) and energy profitability (Energy Return on Investment) were applied. The first-season system presented higher energy demand when compared to the second-season system, with a difference of 10.24 GJ ha<sup>−1</sup> between the conventional ones and 10.47 GJ ha<sup>−1</sup> between the transgenic ones. However, the indicators showed higher energy efficiency in the transgenic off-season corn production, in which the return on energy was 55% higher, and the energy incorporation was 35% lower when compared to conventional first-season corn.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/2/32energy balance<i>Zea mays</i>sustainability |
| spellingShingle | Rodolfo Michelassi Silber Thiago Libório Romanelli Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn AgriEngineering energy balance <i>Zea mays</i> sustainability |
| title | Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn |
| title_full | Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn |
| title_fullStr | Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn |
| title_full_unstemmed | Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn |
| title_short | Energy Assessment for First and Second Season Conventional and Transgenic Corn |
| title_sort | energy assessment for first and second season conventional and transgenic corn |
| topic | energy balance <i>Zea mays</i> sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/4/2/32 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rodolfomichelassisilber energyassessmentforfirstandsecondseasonconventionalandtransgeniccorn AT thiagoliborioromanelli energyassessmentforfirstandsecondseasonconventionalandtransgeniccorn |