Effect of Tillage Systems on Energy Use Efficiency in Wheat-Based Cropping Sequence

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to determine how the energy balance affects under different tillage systems and crop rotations in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey during four year period. The study was carried out using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replicates. Tillage treatments were put in main plots and crop rotations in sub-plots. Total energy inputs in conventional tillage (CT) (20.69 GJ ha-1) was found to be higher than reduced tillage (RT) (20.01 GJ ha-1) and no-till (NT) (18.95 GJ ha-1). The lowest total energy input was obtained in wheat-fallow (W-F) crop rotation (14.54 GJ ha-1) and highest energy outputs in NT (55.89 GJ ha-1) and W-F crop rotation (47.97 GJ ha-1). It was determined that NT had nearly two times more energy use efficiency than CT. The energy use efficiency values for wheat-fallow (W-F), wheat-chickpea (W-C) and wheat-wheat (W-W) were found 3.35, 2.58 and 1.58, respectively. The highest energy productivity was obtained in NT (86.73 kg GJ-1) and W-F crop rotation (94.46 kg GJ-1). In NT practice, the highest wheat grain yield (1456 kg ha-1) was obtained. NT practice had the most appropriate energy use efficiency for dry lands of the Central Anatolia Region. NT practice with W-F and W-C crop rotations can be recommended for dry lands in the study region. © 2016 Friends Science Publishers.