Converting maize production with low emergy cost and high economic return for sustainable development. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Xingya; Tan, Weiming; Zhou, Shunli; Xu, Yang; Cui, Tao; Gao, Hong; Chen, Mingli; Dong, Xuehui; Sun, Hongyong; Yang, Jinzhong; Wu, Yongcheng; Kong, Fanlei; Zhan, Ming; Pan, Jinbao; Wang, Ye; Wang, Xinglong; Luo, Ning; Huang, Shoubing; Mi, Guohua; Zhang, Dongxing; Yuan, Jichao; Chen, Xinping; Meng, Qingfeng; Wang, Pu
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 136(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Emergy assessment -- Cropping system -- Adapted hybrid -- Sustainable agriculture; CMB Chinese maize belt -- CS current system -- ESI emergy sustainability index -- ELR environmental loading ratio -- EYR emergy yield ratio -- GDD growing degree days -- GDDavailable the available theoretical GDD -- LES new variety-based low emergy system -- NCP North China Plain -- NE Northeast China -- RUE radiation use efficiency -- SDGs United Nations Sustainable Development Goals -- SW Southwest China -- UEV unit emergy value; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Promoting more sustainable agriculture while simultaneously meeting the increased demands for food due to the growing population is a great challenge in the 21st century. Here we addressed this challenge by conducting on-farm field experiments at 40 sites across the broad aro-ecological maize region in China during 2017–2018. According to a modern understanding with emergy and economic aspects, a set of new variety-based low emergy system was developed. Compared with the current traditional farmers' system, the new system improved the sustainability (emergy sustainability index) by 19% and increased economic return by 47% while similar productivity (maize yield) was achieved. More than 80% of the modeled yield potential was realized. Moreover, the decrease of nonrenewable materials input in the new system contributed to 88% of the sustainability improvement. As food and resource concerns become more severe in many global regions, this new system is likely to supply a typical case and could be adopted widely to realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in agricultural transformation. Highlights: The sustainability (ESI) was improved by 19% in the new system. The total economic return was increased by 47% in the new system. Compared with the CS, similar grain yield was achieved in LES. The decrease of nonrenewable materials contributed to 88% of improved ESI. Crop production will be more sustainable by decreasing nonrenewable materials.