Energy budgeting and carbon footprint of different tillage-based crop production systems

Abstract:

Leading soil scientists have argued that shifting tillage practices could be the single most cost-effective strategy for reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. This research quantified energy inputs, outputs, and greenhouse gas emissions across four tillage systems—conventional (CT), reduced (RT), minimum (MT), and zero tillage (ZT)—in a rice-wheat rotation at Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra, India, over three years (2021–24). A randomized block design with four treatments and four replications was used. Energy input decreased progressively from CT (18.4 GJ ha⁻¹) to ZT (8.6 GJ ha⁻¹), a 53.3% reduction. Energy use efficiency improved from 2.33 (CT) to 4.43 (ZT). Total carbon footprint declined from 1,271.9 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ (CT) to 735.5 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ (ZT), mainly due to lower diesel consumption and elimination of residue burning. Grain yield under ZT was 6.8% lower than CT in the first year but the gap narrowed to 3.1% by year three. A composite sustainability index combining energy efficiency, carbon footprint, and yield ranked ZT first, followed by MT, RT, and CT.