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Assessing maize production systems in Mexico from an energy, exergy, and greenhouse-gas emissions perspective

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  • Juárez-Hernández, Sergio
  • Usón, Sergio
  • Pardo, Claudia Sheinbaum

Abstract

Maize is the most important staple crop in Mexico and is cultivated under varied agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions. The aim of this study is to estimate energy use, cumulative exergy consumption (CExC), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of different maize production systems as proxies to compare their resource use and environmental performance. Based on average values, per-hectare energy use, energy intensity (EI), energy output-input ratio (ER), and net energy (NE) are in the range of 2.3–40.2 GJ ha−1, 1.8–8.5 MJ kg−1, 1.7–12.0, and 16.3–73.1 GJ ha−1, respectively. Per-hectare CExC, exergy intensity (ExI), exergy output-input ratio (ExR), and net exergy (NEx) are in the range of 2.5–52.1 GJ ha−1, 1.9–10.7 MJ kg−1, 1.6–14.1, and 19.6–86.8 GJ ha−1, respectively. Per-hectare GHG emissions, GHG intensity (GHGI), and GHG per unit energy input (GHGEi) are in the range of 152.9–3475.8 kg CO2e ha−1, 116.5–601.9 kg CO2e Mg−1, and 63.1–117.2 kg CO2e GJ−1, respectively. Low-input rain-fed production systems perform better in EI, ER, ExI, ExR, GHGI, and GHGEi though, they also show the lowest NE and NEx due to poor yields. High-input surface irrigated production systems have the highest NE and NEx coupled with medium values of EI, ExI, and GHGI due to high productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Juárez-Hernández, Sergio & Usón, Sergio & Pardo, Claudia Sheinbaum, 2019. "Assessing maize production systems in Mexico from an energy, exergy, and greenhouse-gas emissions perspective," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 199-211.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:170:y:2019:i:c:p:199-211
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.12.161
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arslan, Aslihan & Taylor, J.Edward, 2009. "Farmers' Subjective Valuation of Subsistence Crops: The Case of Traditional Maize in Mexico," American Journal of Agricultural Economics APPENDICES, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 91(4), pages 1-4, April.
    2. David Tilman & Kenneth G. Cassman & Pamela A. Matson & Rosamond Naylor & Stephen Polasky, 2002. "Agricultural sustainability and intensive production practices," Nature, Nature, vol. 418(6898), pages 671-677, August.
    3. Hoang, Viet-Ngu & Rao, D.S. Prasada, 2010. "Measuring and decomposing sustainable efficiency in agricultural production: A cumulative exergy balance approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 1765-1776, July.
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    3. Esmanur Uçal & Hasan Yildizhan & Arman Ameen & Zafer Erbay, 2023. "Assessment of Whole Milk Powder Production by a Cumulative Exergy Consumption Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.

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