The agricultural machinery is making a considerable negative contribution to the acceleration of global warming. In this study, we analyzed the impact of combine harvesters (CHs) on the global warming potential (GWP) by evaluating the telematics data from 67 CHs operating in Lithuania and Latvia between 2016 and 2020. This study examined the use of their technological operations and the associated impacts on ambient air and performed field tests using the same CH model to determine the composition of exhaust gases and the impact of different technological operations on GWP. The data confirmed the release of significant GWP during indirect operation, and it was estimated that considerable lengths of time were spent in idle (~20%) and transport (~13%) modes. During these operations, over 13% of the total GWP (~27.4 t year⁻¹ per CH), affected by emissions, was released. It was calculated that a GWP reduction exceeding 1 t year⁻¹ per machine can be achieved by optimizing the idling and transport operations. The dual telematics/field test data approach facilitates a comprehensive assessment of both the impact of CH exhaust gases on GWP and the methods for reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Crop production is considered one of the most important agricultural areas in the world, supplying humanity with raw food materials. However, intensive farming very often has a detrimental effect on the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate and assess the efficiency of strip tillage and a sowing machine as well as a direct sowing machine in differently prepared soils in terms of yield, energy, and environmental impact. The experiments were performed with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown using three different tillage techniques and two sowing machines. The results show that the inputs of diesel fuel, energy, and time are directly affected by the number and complexity of technological operations throughout the production chain. The highest inputs of diesel fuel, working time, and energy consumption were needed using conventional tillage technology with strip tillage and a sowing machine (CT–STS), amounting to 130.2 l ha⁻¹, 6.65 h ha⁻¹, and 18,349 MJ ha⁻¹, respectively. The best yields were obtained using no tillage–direct sowing technology (NT–DS), where were reached 7.54 t ha⁻¹. The lowest environmental impact was achieved in the winter wheat production system using NT–DS, where the CO₂ emissions were as high as 15%, lower than those under conventional tillage–direct sowing (CT–DS) and CT–STS. The costs of winter wheat production can be reduced by up to 23.6%. The main conclusion regarding the use of strip tillage and sowing and direct sowing machines in traditional tillage technology is that energy and environmental indicators have deteriorated compared to no tillage, but no significant difference in winter wheat yields has been identified.