Energy efficiency in agriculture. Showcase and alternatives for wheat production in Portugal.

Abstract

This chapter presents some results obtained in the KBBE.2011.4-04 project “Energy Efficiency in Agriculture - AGREE” supported by the 7th Framework Program. It gives an overview into energy use and energy efficiency in wheat production in various agro-climatic zones of Europe. Among cereals, wheat is the crop with the largest cultivated area in Europe. In 2008, the percentage share of the area occupied by common and durum wheat in the countries analysed in the AGREE project ranged from 2.4% in Portugal to 18.9% in Germany (Gołaszewski et al., 2012). The different production systems in different climates vary substantially in their energy use and energy saving potential. A showcase of conventional wheat production in Portugal, where in 2012 it was cultivated in 54,761 ha (INE, 2013), is presented and some production alternatives are analysed. The main objective was to analyse the effect in the economic results, energy consumption and environmental impacts of three wheat production systems alternatives: 1. no tillage cropping systems, 2. reduction of phosphorous application and 3. the use of supplemental irrigation.