The Effect of crop rotation on energy indices and greenhouse gas emissions in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) dryland agroecosystems in Kermanshah region, Iran

Angazi, Farzaneh; Mondani, Farzad; Ghobadi, Mokhtar; Yousefi, Mohammad

doi:10.22034/jelsa.2025.492300.1091

The Effect of crop rotation on energy indices and greenhouse gas emissions in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum) dryland agroecosystems in Kermanshah region, Iran

Document Type : Original research article

Authors

Farzaneh Angazi ¹

Farzad Mondani ²

Mokhtar Ghobadi ²

Mohammad Yousefi ³

¹ M.Sc. student of Crop Ecology, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

² Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

³ Razi Ph.D. Graduated of Crop Ecology, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22034/jelsa.2025.492300.1091

Abstract

The application of appropriate agricultural practices leads to savings in fuel consumption, energy, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this research was conducted to compare wheat-chickpea crop rotation with wheat monoculture in terms of energy indices and amount of greenhouse gas emissions in dryland agroecosystems during 2021. The amounts of inputs consumed and all agricultural operations in the studied agroecosystems from planting to harvesting were calculated through questionnaires and energy analysis. Data analysis included three components: energy inputs, energy outputs, and global warming potential due to greenhouse gas emissions. The results indicated that total energy input for wheat-chickpea rotation and wheat monoculture was 13550.5 and 15106.8 Mj ha^-1, respectively. The total energy output for wheat-chickpea rotation and wheat monoculture were 45802.5 and 41860.3 Mj ha^-1, respectively. Energy use efficiency for wheat-chickpea rotation and wheat monoculture were 3.4 and 2.8, respectively. In wheat monoculture system, CO₂ emission was about 184.9% higher than wheat-chickpea rotation, which were related to use of fossil fuel (59.2%), nitrogen fertilizer (30.8%), and phosphate fertilizer (7.4%). Nitrogen oxide emissions in wheat monoculture were higher than wheat-chickpea rotation. The global warming potential in wheat monoculture and wheat-chickpea rotation systems were 709.3 and 627.9 kg eq Co₂ h^-1, respectively. Overall, the results showed that wheat monoculture has lower energy efficiency and higher global warming potential compared to wheat-chickpea rotation. Therefore, to prevent further emission of greenhouse gases and combat climate change, wheat-chickpea crop rotation is recommended instead of wheat monoculture in dryland agroecosystems.

Highlights

Wheat-chickpea rotation cuts energy input by 11% (13550.5 vs. 15106.8 MJ ha^-1) vs. monoculture.
Energy efficiency rises 18% in rotation (3.4) over monoculture (2.8) in Kermanshah.
CO₂ emissions 184.9% higher in monoculture due to fossil fuel and nitrogen use.
Rotation boosts energy output 9% (45802.5 vs. 41860.3 MJ ha^-1) vs. monoculture.
GWP lower in rotation (627.9 kg CO₂ eq ha^-1) than monoculture (709.3 kg CO₂ eq ha^-1).

Keywords

Energy productivity

Energy use efficiency, Global warming potential

Monoculture

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