ENERGY CONSUMED AND GREENHOUSE GASES EMITTED IN TWO CORN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1317412409013

• Palavras-chave: CO2, N2O, fertilizantes, diésel, kcal

• Keywords: CO2, N2O, fertilizantes, diésel, kcal

• Abstract:

  
  The energy and GHG emission analysis of the corn cultivation system was carried out in mechanized direct sowing on the plane and manually on the slope. Energy values proposed in the literature were assigned to the manufacture and use of machinery and equipment, fuel consumption, use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as to corn grain and manual activities, to obtain Energy Efficiency based on the output minus energy input, while Productive Energy Efficiency was obtained by relating the energy consumed between the performance obtained. Parallel to the above, the CO2eq emission for each production process was considered and strategies were proposed to reduce pollutant emissions and the form of carbon capture. The mechanized system consumed 2,493,743 and the manual system consumed 2,355,274 kcal/ha, with yields of 3,333 and 1,550 kg/ha, respectively. Both had an energy surplus, with the highest gain corresponding to the mechanized system with 9105.097 kcal/ha, due to its higher performance. The GHG emitted were 525.32 and 487.21 kg of CO2eq for mechanized and manual cultivation, respectively. Increasing input costs, reducing tillage, the use of nitrification inhibitors, the use of manure, agroforestry systems and cover crops, among others, are suggested as strategies to reduce GHG emissions. In the practical aspect, the carbon emitted for both systems is captured by growing 8.7 and 8.1 trees for 10 years for mechanized and manual planting, respectively.