Energy balance in crop-farming system under soil management and cover crops

Abstract

Energy balance is a way of evaluating the efficiency of the management of agricultural production systems. The objective of this work was to compare, from the energy point of view, two forms of soil management and with variation in the management of different winter cover crops. The experiment was conducted in a family-based property located in the municipality of Anta Gorda/RS, in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, in Neossolo Regolítico distrófico típico. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with subdivided plots and three replicates. The main treatments consisted of two forms of soil management: no-tillage and no-tillage and chiseling at two-year intervals, being subdivided in winter by crops of black oats (Avena strigosa), vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and grazed black oats. As a result, it was verified that all management systems had a positive energy balance. No-tillage resulted in lower intake, higher output, net energy and energy efficiency in relation to no-tillage and chiseling every two years. Among the winter cover crops, oats without grazing were those whose cultivation resulted in higher net energy and energy efficiency.