Comparison of energy inputs for inorganic fertilizer and manure based corn production.

摘要

Energy inputs were calculated for grain maize production with data from field experiments utilizing inorganic fertilizer and liquid pig manure as sources of plant nutrients. The calculations utilized energy coefficients taken from the literature andactual application rates of the various input products including seed maize, starter fertilizer and regular inorganic fertilizer, herbicides, fuel for field operations, and grain drying. The results showed that grain maize could be produced successfullyby substituting manure for inorganic fertilizer. The energy savings in the manured treatments resulted largely from eliminating the energy in fertilizer manufacture and ranged from 31 to 34% of the energy input for inorganic fertilizer based grain maizeproduction. Published agricultural statistics were used to extrapolate the results to the entire Mixedwood Plains Ecozone which covers the lower Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Valley regions of Ontario and Quebec, Canada. An estimated upper bound of4.6 PJ (1 petajoule=1015 joules) of energy could be saved annually by substituting livestock manure for inorganic fertilizer in the production of the entire acreage of grain maize grown in the ecozone. This estimate is based on the assumptions of availability of sufficient manure, and no credits being given for manure presently being used. Spatial analysis identified South Western Ontario and the Richileau - St. Hyacinthe region of Quebec as the areas where the potential energy savings would be greatest.