Optimization of energy consumption using data envelopment analysis (DEA) in rice-wheat-green gram cropping system under conservation tillage practices

Zero and reduced tillage practices along with other measures like crop residue management play a great role in conservation agriculture towards energy conservation. In this study, energy budgeting and optimization were carried out for rice-wheat-green gram cultivation in three different tillage systems viz. conservation tillage, reduced tillage and zero tillage along with five different residue and fertilizer doses. Energy was optimized by Data Envelopment Analysis approach considering two models, namely BCC and CCR models with 15 decision making units. Total energy input was minimum in ZT with 0% residue retention (74,688 MJ ha(-1)) which was about 50% less than the maximum energy input (150,392 MJ ha(-1)) in conservation tillage with 100% residue retention. Maximum yield energy (120,334 MJ ha(-1)) was found in reduced tillage with 0% paddy straw residue + 100% N.P.K and the minimum yield energy (84,809 MJ ha(-1)) was found in zero tillage with 100% paddy straw residue + 50% N.P.K. According to the CCR model, only 20% and according to the BCC model, 40% DMUs were using input energy efficiently and others used input energy inefficiently. Using optimized energy input values, an average of 4027 MJ ha(-1) (9.21%) energy could be saved for rice-wheat-green gram cropping system. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the energy budgeting and optimization for rice-wheat-green gram cultivation in different tillage systems and residue/fertilizer doses, finding that zero tillage had the lowest total energy input while reduced tillage had the highest yield energy.