Comparison of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in various systems of soybean seedbed preparation and planting in Gorgan

Greenhouse gases emissions from burning fossil fuels and the effect of these gases on climate change is one of the most important ecological and political issues. In this study, the energy consumption and greenhouse gases emission from tillage and soybean planting were assessed in Gorgan. This study was done on the 13 soybean farms in 2012. Information related to tillage and planting operations were provided through personal interview with farmers. Tillage and planting operations were included no-tillage (S1), tillage and planting with combined equipments (S2), tillage with tandem disk and planting with row planter (S3) and tillage with moldboard plow + disk and planting with row planter (S4) for soybean production. In this region S3 is known as conventional system. Results indicated that fuel consumption from S1 to S4 was 12, 39, 42 and 72 liters per hectare, respectively. Also energy consumption from S1 to S4 was, 612, 1733, 1922 and 3182 Mj per hectare, respectively. In terms of greenhouse gases emission from S1 to S4 these values were respectively estimated, 71, 185, 197 and 315 kilogram carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare. In S2 and S3 fuel and energy consumption were same. Among all systems S4 had the most energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions. It was concluded that application of no-till system can reduce fuel and energy consumption also can decrease global warming.