• Energy Research

Agroforestry systems have multifunctional roles in enhancing agronomic productivity, co-production of diversity of food and non-food products and provision of ecosystem services. The knowledge of the performance of agroforestry systems compared with monoculture is scarce and scattered. Hence, the objective of the study was to analyze the agronomic productivity and economic viability of diverse agroforestry systems in Europe. A network of five agroforestry systems integrating arable crops, livestock and biomass trees was investigated to assess the range of agricultural products in each agroforestry system. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was used to measure the agronomic productivity, whereas gross margin was used as an indicator for economic viability assessment. LER values ranged from 1.36–2.00, indicating that agroforestry systems were more productive by 36–100% compared to monocultures. Agroforestry gross margin was lower in Denmark (€112 ha−1 year−1) compared to United Kingdom (€5083 ha−1 year−1) and the crop component yielded higher returns compared to negative returns from the tree component in agroforestry. Hence, the study provided robust field-based evidence on agronomic productivity and economic viability assessment of agroforestry systems in diverse contexts for informed decision making by land managers, advisory services, farmers and policymakers.

Agroforestry systems have multifunctional roles in enhancing agronomic productivity, co-production of diversity of food and non-food products and provision of ecosystem services. The knowledge of the performance of agroforestry systems compared with monoculture is scarce and scattered. Hence, the objective of the study was to analyze the agronomic productivity and economic viability of diverse agroforestry systems in Europe. A network of five agroforestry systems integrating arable crops, livestock and biomass trees was investigated to assess the range of agricultural products in each agroforestry system. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was used to measure the agronomic productivity, whereas gross margin was used as an indicator for economic viability assessment. LER values ranged from 1.36–2.00, indicating that agroforestry systems were more productive by 36–100% compared to monocultures. Agroforestry gross margin was lower in Denmark (€112 ha−1 year−1) compared to United Kingdom (€5083 ha−1 year−1) and the crop component yielded higher returns compared to negative returns from the tree component in agroforestry. Hence, the study provided robust field-based evidence on agronomic productivity and economic viability assessment of agroforestry systems in diverse contexts for informed decision making by land managers, advisory services, farmers and policymakers.

Abstract The combined implementation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been identified as a suitable tool for the evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of multiple similar entities. In this study, a total of 82 rice paddy fields for spring and summer growing seasons in north of Iran were assessed using a combined LCA and DEA methodology to estimate the technical efficiency of each farmer. Furthermore, the environmental consequences of operational inefficiencies were quantified and target performance values benchmarked for inefficient units so that eco-efficiency criteria were verified. Results showed average reduction levels of up to 20% and 25% per material input for spring and summer systems, leading to impact reductions which ranged from 8% to 11% for spring farms and 19% to 25% for summer farms depending on the chosen impact category. Additionally, the potential economic savings from efficient farming operations were also determined. The economic results indicate that an added annual gross margin of 0.045 $ per 1 kg rice paddy could be achieved if inefficient units converted to an efficient operation.

Abstract The combined implementation of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been identified as a suitable tool for the evaluation of the environmental and economic performance of multiple similar entities. In this study, a total of 82 rice paddy fields for spring and summer growing seasons in north of Iran were assessed using a combined LCA and DEA methodology to estimate the technical efficiency of each farmer. Furthermore, the environmental consequences of operational inefficiencies were quantified and target performance values benchmarked for inefficient units so that eco-efficiency criteria were verified. Results showed average reduction levels of up to 20% and 25% per material input for spring and summer systems, leading to impact reductions which ranged from 8% to 11% for spring farms and 19% to 25% for summer farms depending on the chosen impact category. Additionally, the potential economic savings from efficient farming operations were also determined. The economic results indicate that an added annual gross margin of 0.045 $ per 1 kg rice paddy could be achieved if inefficient units converted to an efficient operation.

The article is devoted to research of above-ground biomass of oak (Quercus robur L.) windbreaks. Described are the morphological, biological, ecological and forest meliorative properties of common oak growing in windbreaks. The dependence between the amount of biomass components and the main mensurational and meliorative indices such as protective height and openness in the crowns of windbreaks has been established. As a result, mathematic models for the assessment of both the above-ground components of a tree,the crown, and a windbreak, as a whole, have been developed. It is determined that the relative density of the trunk has less accuracy than openness in the crown in the assessment of the components of above-ground phytomass of a windbreak. For a separate tree of 36 cm in diameter at breath height, 24 m in height, a 0.8 windbreak density and a 10 % openness of crown in windbreak, the share of trunk biomass is higher in a massive stand in comparison with a windbreak. However, the crown biomass in a windbreak is 6% larger than in a massive stand. The standards for determination of the amount of phytomass components for trunks and crowns of separate trees and oak windbreaks, as well as that of sequestered carbon have been developed. The developed models and standards were analyzed. and the structure of phytomass on the components and sequestered carbon done. The comparative analyze has revealed the trends towards increased share of crown phytomass in the oak windbreaks with increasing their biometric characteristics as compared to massive stands.

The article is devoted to research of above-ground biomass of oak (Quercus robur L.) windbreaks. Described are the morphological, biological, ecological and forest meliorative properties of common oak growing in windbreaks. The dependence between the amount of biomass components and the main mensurational and meliorative indices such as protective height and openness in the crowns of windbreaks has been established. As a result, mathematic models for the assessment of both the above-ground components of a tree,the crown, and a windbreak, as a whole, have been developed. It is determined that the relative density of the trunk has less accuracy than openness in the crown in the assessment of the components of above-ground phytomass of a windbreak. For a separate tree of 36 cm in diameter at breath height, 24 m in height, a 0.8 windbreak density and a 10 % openness of crown in windbreak, the share of trunk biomass is higher in a massive stand in comparison with a windbreak. However, the crown biomass in a windbreak is 6% larger than in a massive stand. The standards for determination of the amount of phytomass components for trunks and crowns of separate trees and oak windbreaks, as well as that of sequestered carbon have been developed. The developed models and standards were analyzed. and the structure of phytomass on the components and sequestered carbon done. The comparative analyze has revealed the trends towards increased share of crown phytomass in the oak windbreaks with increasing their biometric characteristics as compared to massive stands.