Environmental accounting for croplands, livestock husbandry, and integrated systems based on emergetic indicators

Abstract

By linking agricultural and livestock products, integrated crop-livestock systems produce economic and environmental benefits. Using emergy analysis, the current study evaluates the effect of an integrated system for producing agricultural crops and livestock on efficiency and ecological sustainability, and compares it to separate crop and livestock production systems. This study was conducted in 2019, with data collected from the smallholding farmland and livestock systems of Boland Village in Sistan, Iran. Purchased inputs accounted for 51.08, 99.96, and 30.94% of the total inputs of cropping, livestock, and integrated production systems, respectively. The values of Emergy Yield Ratio, Emergy Sustainability Indices, and Gross Benefit and Net Benefit showed that, due to the positive interactions between the crop and livestock components along with high environmental sustainability, the integrated system results in a higher net profit in comparison to the individual cropping and livestock systems. Due to the suitable weather and richness of natural resources in the Sistan region, various crops are produced all year round, and many opportunities exist for integrating agricultural and livestock products in this region. The results also indicated that while the integration of crops and livestock has the potential to reduce economic risks and to increase profitability, it can also provide great benefits regarding the preservation of soil and water resources and the productivity of nutrient cycling. An integrated crop-livestock system is suggested as a suitable option for diversifying agricultural practices, which could prevent risks, improve crop ecological production, and prevent soil erosion and nutrient loss.

Keywords

Integrated systems / Feedback loops / Ecological sustainability / Environmental load / Emergy analysis / Sustainability indicators

References

[1] Abbasi HR, Gohardasht A, Khaksarian F, Ganjali M. Morphological features of wind sediments and erosive winds in Sistan plain. Desert Management, 2017, 5: 28-42 In Persian

[2] Agostinho F, Diniz G, Siche R, Ortega E. The use of emergy assessment and the geographical information system in the diagnosis of small family farms in Brazil. Ecol Modeling, 2008, 210: 37-57

[3] Alfaro-Arguello R, Diemont SA, Ferguson BG, Martin JF, Nahed-Toral J, Álvarez-Solís JD, Ruíz RP. Steps toward sustainable ranching: an emergy evaluation of conventional and holistic management in Chiapas. Mexico Agric Syst, 2010, 103(9): 639-646

[4] Amiri Z, Asgharipour MR, Campbell DE, Armin M. A sustainability analysis of two rapeseed farming ecosystems in Khorramabad, Iran, based on emergy and economic analyses. J Clean Prod, 2019, 226: 1051-1066

[5] Amiri Z, Asgharipour MR, Campbell DE, Aghapour Sabaghi M. Comparison of the sustainability of mechanized and traditional rapeseed production systems using an emergy-based production function: a case study in Lorestan Province. Iran J Clean Production, 2020, 258: 1-11

[6] Amiri Z, Asgharipour MR, Campbell DE, Azizi K, Kakolvand E. Conservation agriculture, a selective model based on emergy analysis for sustainable production of shallot as a medicinal-industrial plant. J Clean Production, 2021, 292: 126000

[7] Amiri Z, Asgharipour MR, Moghadam EH, Kakolvand E, Campbell DE. Investigating the need to replace the conventional method of sugar beet production in lorestan province, iran based on the arguments obtained from emergy calculations. Ecol Modelling, 2022, 472: 110091

[8] Amiri Z, Maghsoudi A, Asgharipour MR, Nejati-Javaremi A, Campbell DE. The semi-intensive production model: a strategy based on emergy and economic analyses to realize sustainability in the ecosystem of Sistani beef cattle raising in Iran. J Clean Production, 2022, 362: 132304

[9] Artuzo FD, Allegretti G, Santos OIB, da Silva LX, Talamini E. Emergy unsustainability index for agricultural systems assessment: a proposal based on the laws of thermodynamics. Sci Total Environ, 2021, 759: 143524

[10] Asgharipour MR, Shahgholi H, Campbell DE, Khamari I, Ghadiri A. Comparison of the sustainability of bean production systems based on emergy and economic analyses. Environ Monioring Assess, 2019, 191: 2

[11] Asgharipour MR, Amiri Z, Campbell DE. Evaluation of the sustainability of four greenhouse vegetable production ecosystems based on an analysis of emergy and social characteristics. Ecol Modeling, 2020, 424: 1-17

[12] Bastianoni S, Campbell DE, Ridolfi R, Pulselli FM. The solar transformity of petroleum fuels. Ecol Modeling, 2009, 220: 40-50

[13] Bell LW, Moore AD, Kirkegaard JA. Evolution in crop–livestock integration systems that improve farm productivity and environmental performance in Australia. Eur J Agroomy, 2014, 57: 10-20

[14] Brandt-Williams SL (2002) Handbook of emergy evaluation: a compendium of data for emergy computation issued in a series of Folios. Center for Environmental Policy Environmental Engineering Science. University of Floriga, Gainesville.

[15] Brown MT, Buranakarn V. Emergy indices and ratios for sustainable material cycles and recycle options. Resour Conserv Recycl, 2003, 38(1): 1-22

[16] Brown MT, Ulgiati S. Energy quality, emergy, and transformity: H.T. Odum’s contributions to quantifying and understanding systems. Ecol Modeling, 2004, 178: 201-213

[17] Campbell DE. Emergy baseline for the Earth: a historical review of the science and a new calculation. Ecol Modeling, 2016, 339: 96-125

[18] Campbell DE, Erban LE. A reexamination of the emergy input to a system from the wind. Emergy Synth, 2017, 9: 13-20

[19] Campbell DE, Lu HF, Knox GA, Odum HT. Maximizing empower on a human-dominated planet: the role of exotic Spartina. Ecol Eng, 2009, 35: 463-486

[20] Campbell DE, Brandt-Williams SL, Meisch MEA (2005) Environmental accounting using emergy: evaluation of the State of West Virginia. EPA/600/R-02/ 011. USEPA, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, pp 116.

[21] Campbell DE (2003) A note on the uncertainty in estimates of transformities based on global water budgets. In: Brown MT, Odum HT, Tilley DR, Ulgiati S (eds) Emergy Synthesis 2. Proceedings of the Second Biennial Emergy Analysis Conference. Center for Environmental Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, pp 349–353

[22] Castellini P, Martarelli M, Tomasini EP. Laser doppler vibrometry: development of advanced solutions answering to technology's needs. Mechan System Signal Process, 2006, 20(6): 1265-1285

[23] Cavalett O, Ortega E. Emergy, nutrients balance, and economic assessment of soybean production and industrialization in Brazil. J Clean Prod, 2009, 17: 762-771

[24] Cavalett O, de Queiroz JF, Ortega E. Emergy assessment of integrated production systems of grains, pig and fish in small farms in the South Brazil. Ecol Modeling, 2006, 193: 205-224

[25] Chen F. Agricultural ecology, 2011 2 Beijing China Agricultural University Press

[26] Cheng H, Chen C, Wu S, Mirza ZA, Liu Z. Emergy evaluation of cropping, poultry rearing, and fish raising systems in the drawdown zone of Three Gorges Reservoir of China. J Clean Prod, 2017, 144: 559-571

[27] Clark EA. Benefits of re-integrating livestock and forages in crop production systems. J Crop Improv, 2004, 12(1–2): 405-436

[28] Conant RT, Ryan MG, Ågren GI, Birge HE, Davidson EA, Eliasson PE, Evans SE, Frey SD, Giardina CP, Hopkins FM, Hyvönen R. Temperature and soil organic matter decomposition rates–synthesis of current knowledge and a way forward. Glob Change Biol, 2011, 17(11): 3392-3404

[29] Ćosić-Flajsig G, Vučković I, Karleuša B. An innovative holistic approach to an e-flow assessment model. Civil Eng J, 2020, 6(11): 2188-2202

[30] Cuadra M, Rydberg T. Emergy evaluation on the production, processing and export of coffee in Nicaragua. Ecol Modeling, 2006, 196(3–4): 421-433

[31] David LH, Pinho SM, Keesman KJ, Garcia F. Assessing the sustainability of tilapia farming in biofloc-based culture using emergy synthesis. Ecol Ind, 2021, 131: 108186

[32] de Barros JM, Blazy GS, Rodrigues R, Tournebize JP. Emergy evaluation and economic performance of banana cropping systems in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Agric, Ecosyst Environ, 2009, 129: 437-449

[33] Fallahinejad S, Armin M, Asgharipour MR. The effect of farm size on the sustainability of wheat production using emergy approach. Curr Res Environ Sustain, 2022, 4: 100161

[34] Franzluebbers AJ. Integrated crop-livestock systems in the southeastern USA. Agron J, 2007, 99(2): 361-372

[35] Franzluebbers AJ, Stuedemann JA. Crop and cattle responses to tillage systems for integrated crop-livestock production in the Southern Piedmont, USA. Renewable Agric Food Syst, 2007, 22: 168-180

[36] Guan F, Sha Zh, Zhang Y, Wang J, Wang Ch. Emergy assessment of three home courtyard agriculture production systems in Tibet Autonomous Region. China JZUS-b, 2016, 17(8): 628-639

[37] Hu S, Mo X, Lin Z, Qiu J. Emergy assessment of a wheat-maize rotation system with different water assignments in the North China Plain. J Environ Manage, 2010, 46: 643-657

[38] Iqbal Khan K, Nuno Mata M, Martins MJ, Nasir A, Dantas RM, Correia AB, Saghir MU. Impediments of green finance adoption system: linking economy and environment. Emerg Sci J, 2020, 6(2): 217-237

[39] Jafari M, Asgharipour MR, Ramroudi M, Galavi M, Hadarbadi G. Sustainability assessment of date and pistachio agricultural systems using energy, emergy and economic approaches. J Clean Prod, 2018, 193: 642-651

[40] Lan SF, Qin P, Lu HF. Emergy analysis of eco-economic system, 2002 Chemical Industry Press

[41] Liu Y, Li H, An H, Santagata R, Liu X, Ulgiati S. Environmental and economic sustainability of key sectors in China's steel industry chain: An application of the Emergy Accounting approach. Ecol Ind, 2021, 129: 108011

[42] Liu Z, Wang S, Xue B, Li R, Geng Y, Yang T, Li Y, Dong H, Luo Z, Tao W, Gu J. Emergy-based indicators of the environmental impacts and driving forces of non-point source pollution from crop production in China. Ecol Ind, 2021, 121: 107023

[43] Lu H, Campbell DE. Ecological and economic dynamics of the Shunde agricultural system under China's small city development strategy. J Environ Manage, 2009, 90: 2589-2600

[44] Lu HF, Lan SF, Li L, Peng SL. New emergy indices for sustainable development. J Environ Manage, 2003, 15(4): 562-569

[45] Lu P, Yu Q, Liu J, Lee X. Advance of tree-flowering dates in response to urban climate change. Agric for Meteorol, 2006, 138: 120-131

[46] Lu HF, Kang WL, Campbell DE, Ren H, Tan YW, Feng RX, Luo JT, Chen FP. Emergy and economic evaluations of four fruit production systems on reclaimed wetlands surrounding the Pearl River Estuary, China. Ecol Eng, 2009, 35: 1743-1757

[47] Lu H, Bai Y, Ren H, Campbell DE. Integrated emergy, energy and economic evaluation of rice and vegetable production systems in alluvial paddy fields: implications for agricultural policy in China. J Environ Manage, 2010, 91: 2727-2735

[48] Lu HF, Yuan Y, Campbell DE, Qin P, Cui L. Integrated water quality, emergy and economic evaluation of three bioremediation treatment systems for eutrophic water. Ecol Eng, 2014, 69: 244-254

[49] Lu HF, Tan YW, Zhang WS, Qiao YC, Campbell DE, Zhou L, Ren H. Integrated emergy and economic evaluation of lotus-root production systems on reclaimed wetlands surrounding the Pearl River Estuary, China. J Clean Prod, 2017, 158: 367-379

[50] Moonilall NI, Homenauth O, Lal R. Emergy analysis for maize fields under different amendment applications in Guyana. J Clean Prod, 2020, 258(120761): 1-29

[51] Muzari W. Interactions of biophysical and socioeconomic factors and outputs in mixed crop-livestock smallholder farming systems in africa south of the sahara. Int J Sci Res, 2014, 5(1): 1777-1787

[52] Nakhaei M, Behdani MA, Asgharipour MR, Hedayatizadeh M. Monitoring and accounting the sustainability of tomato greenhouse production systems of Mirjaveh district, Iran based on emergetic indicators. Curr Res Environ Sustain, 2022, 4: 100149

[53] Odum HT. Environmental accounting: emergy and decision making, 1996 New York Wiley

[54] Odum HT, Peterson N. Simulation and evaluation with energy systemsblocks. Ecological Modeling, 1996, 93: 155-173

[55] Odum HT (2000) Handbook of emergy evaluation: a compendium of data for emergy computation issued in a series of folios. Folio No. 2 e Emergy of Global Processes. Center for Environmental Policy, Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, p 28.

[56] Panzieri M, Marchettini N, Hallam TG. Importance of the Bradhyrizobium japonicum symbiosis for the sustainability of a soybean cultivation. Ecological Modeling, 2000, 135: 301-310

[57] Pizzigallo ACI, Granai C, Borsa S. The joint use of LCA and emergy evaluation for the analysis of two Italian wine farms. J Environ Manage, 2008, 86: 396-406

[58] Porsur K (2009) Comparative study of Wind Erosion Potential in the Sistan agricultural and non-agricultural lands Using IRIFR models. Master Thesis, University of Zabol.

[59] Pulselli RM, Rustici M, Marchettini N. An integrated framework for regional studies: emergy based spatial analysis of the province of Cagliari. Environ Monit Assess, 2007, 133(1): 1-13

[60] Quintero-Angel M, Gonzalez-Acevedo A. Tendencies and challenges for the assessment 999 of agricultural sustainability. Agric Ecosyst Environ, 2018, 254: 273-281

[61] Raza MY, Nawaz Khan A, Abbas Khan N, Kakarm A. The role of food crop production, agriculture value added, electricity consumption, forest covered area, and forest production on CO2 emissions: insights from a developing economy. Environ Monit Assess, 2021, 193: 747

[62] Rodríguez-Ortega T, Bernues A, Olaizola AM, Brown MT. Does intensification result in higher efficiency and sustainability? An emergy analysis of Mediterranean sheep-crop farming systems. J Clean Prod, 2017, 144: 171-179

[63] Schiere H, Katere L. Mixed crop-livestock farming: a review of traditional technologis based on literature and field experiences, 2001 Roma FAO

[64] Schulte EE, Hopkins BG. Estimation of soil organic matter by weight loss-on-ignition. Soil Organic Matter: Anal Interpret, 1996, 46: 21-31

[65] Sha Zh, Guan F, Wang J, Zhang Y, Liu H, Wang Ch. Evaluation of raising geese in cornfields based on emergy analysis: a case study in southeastern Tibet, China. Ecol Eng, 2015, 84: 485-491

[66] Sneessens I, Veysset P, Benoit M, Lamadon A, Brunschwig G. Direct and indirect impacts of crop–livestock organization on mixed crop–livestock systems sustainability: a model-based study. Animal, 2016, 10(11): 1911-1922

[67] Sumberg J. Toward a dis-aggregated view of crop-livestock integration in Western Africa. Land Use Policy, 2003, 20(3): 253-264

[68] Tavousi T, Raeispour K. Statistical analysis and prediction of the occurrence of severe storms using the method. J Geogr Stud Arid Areas, 2011, 1(2): 93-105 In Persian

[69] Ulgiati S, Brown MT. Monitoring patterns of sustainability in natural and man-made ecosystems. Ecol Modeling, 1998, 108(1–3): 23-36

[70] Ulgiati S, Brown MT. Resource quality, technological efficiency and factors of scale within the emergy framework: a response to Macro Raugei. Ecol Modeling, 2012, 227: 109-111

[71] Ulgiati S, Odum H, Bastianoni S. Emergy use, environmental loading and sustainability an emergy analysis of Italy. Ecological Modeling, 1994, 73: 215-268

[72] Van Beek E, Bozorgy B, Vekerdy Z, Meijer K. Limits to agricultural growth in the sistan closed inland delta. Iran Irrigation and Drainage Systems, 2008, 22(2): 131-143

[73] Wang X, Dadouma A, Chen Y, Sui P, Gao W, Qin F, Zhang J, Xia Wu. Emergy analysis of grain production systems on large-scale farms in the North China Plain based on LCA. Agric Syst, 2014, 128: 66-78

[74] Wiesner S, Duff AJ, Desai AR, Panke-Buisse K. Increasing Dairy Sustainability with Integrated Crop-Livestock Farming. Sustainability, 2020, 12(3): 765

[75] Wolmer W (1997) Crop-livestock integration: The dynamics of intensification in contrasting agroecological zones: A review. IDS Working Paper 63. IDS, University of Sussex.

[76] World Bank Agriculture investment sourcebook, module 4: investments in sustainable agricultural intensification, 2006 Washington World Bank

[77] Wu XH, Wu FQ, Tong XG, Jiang B. Emergy-based sustainability assessment of an integrated production system of cattle, biogas, and greenhouse vegetables: insightinto the comprehensive utilization of wastes on a large-scale farm in Northwest China. Ecol Eng, 2013, 61: 335-344

[78] Xi YG, Qin P. Emergy evaluation of organic rice-duck mutualism system. Ecol Eng, 2009, 11: 1677-1683

[79] Xu Q, Yang Y, Hu K, Chen J, Djomo SN, Yang X, Knudsen MT. Economic, environmental, and emergy analysis of China's green tea production. Sustain Production Consump, 2021, 28: 269-280

[80] Yan L, Zhang X, Pan H, Wu J, Lin L, Zhang Y, Xu C, Xu M, Luo H. Progress of Chinese ecological civilization construction and obstacles during 2003–2020: Implications from one set of emergy-based indicator system. Ecol Ind, 2021, 130: 108112

[81] Yang Q, Chen GQ, Liao S, Zhao YH, Peng HW, Chen HP. Environmental sustainability of wind power: an emergy analysis of a Chinese wind farm. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 2013, 25: 229-239

[82] Zhang G, Long W. A key review on emergy analysis and assessment of biomass resources for a sustainable future. Energy Policy, 2010, 29: 4111-4129

[83] Zhang LX, Ulgiati S, Yang ZF, Chen B. Emergy evaluation and economic analysis of three wetland fish farming systems in Nansi Lake area, China. J Environ Manage, 2011, 92: 683-694

[84] Zhang LX, Song B, Chen B. Emergy-based analysis of four farming systems: insight into agricultural diversification in rural China. J Clean Prod, 2012, 28: 33-44

[85] Zhang MM, Wang ZF, Xu C, Jiang H. Embodied energy and emergy analyses of a concentrating solar power (CSP) system. Energy Policy, 2012, 42: 232-238

[86] Zia Tavana MH (1992) Characteristics of the natural environment of Sistan hole. Geographical articles of Dr. Mohammad Hassan Ganji's celebration letter. Tehran. Gitashenasi Publications. (In Persian)

Funding

University of Zabol(IR-UOZ-GR-6673)