Energy Balance of Four Farming Systems in North-Eastern Italy

SUMMARY BACKGROUND. Energy analysis was applied to evaluate the sustainability of farming systems as well as to assess the energy inputs of agriculture. Many authors consider both the gross energy requirement method and the analysis of non-renewable sources use, which is preferable when the abatement of excess energy use is to be pursued. In this paper, the productivity and energy balance of four farming systems ‐ representing different models of agriculture for Northeastern Italy ‐ have been compared. METHODS .A field trial was established in 1993 at Palazzolo dello Stella, UD (North-eastern Italy) and is still in progress. On a 12 ha area, four farming systems were compared: low input permanent meadow (PM), high input two-year crop rotation (2Y), intermediate input four-year crop rotation (4Y), and high input five-year cash crop rotation (5Y). The gross energy method was used to determine the energy inputs of the farming systems, taking into account only fossil energy sources, considering neither renewable sources nor human labour. RESULTS. On the average of the trial period (19931999), the ranking of farming system energy use was 2Y > 5Y > PM > 4Y, ranging from more than 20000 MJ ha -1 year -1 to less than 30000 MJ ha -1 year -1 .F er

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