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Commercial horticulture in many regions of the world depends upon Sphagnum peat as a potting-media substrate, but extracting peat has serious environmental consequences. Composts may be able to serve as effective substitutes for peat and offer potential environmental advantages. The suitability of compost as potting media depends upon the raw materials as well as processing methods used. This study includes two related experiments—one with beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and the other with tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)—aimed at assessing the potential viability of farm-produced, food-residuals compost as a replacement for peat-based potting media in the production of organic vegetable transplants. The experiments were conducted in 2021 on the Berea College Farm in Kentucky, USA, a USDA certified organic farm. The results indicated that potting media composed of 75% to 100% compost performed as well as fertilized, peat-based growing media for plant growth. Further, although weeds were present in the compost, weed pressure was not severe enough to adversely affect crop growth. Thus, sterilization of compost, which did eliminate weeds in the compost, was not deemed necessary for using the compost as a partial or complete potting medium. Compost pasteurization was also assessed but was ineffective in destroying weed seeds.
Tsuzuchi Isaka; Sean Clark; Janet Meyer. Compost Functions as Effective Replacement for Peat-Based Potting Media in Organic Greenhouse Transplant Production. J 2021, 4, 394 -403.
AMA StyleTsuzuchi Isaka, Sean Clark, Janet Meyer. Compost Functions as Effective Replacement for Peat-Based Potting Media in Organic Greenhouse Transplant Production. J. 2021; 4 (3):394-403.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTsuzuchi Isaka; Sean Clark; Janet Meyer. 2021. "Compost Functions as Effective Replacement for Peat-Based Potting Media in Organic Greenhouse Transplant Production." J 4, no. 3: 394-403.
Eco-efficiency has become a cornerstone in improving the environmental and economic performance of farms. The joint use of life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA), known as LCA + DEA methodology, is an expanding area of research in this quest. LCA estimates the environmental impacts of the products or services, while DEA evaluates their efficiency, providing targets and benchmarks for the inefficient ones. Because energy consumption and environmental quality are highly interdependent, we carried out a study to examine energy efficiency and environmental emissions associated with rain-fed barley farms in Kermanshah Province, Iran. Fifty-four rain-fed barley farms were randomly selected, and production data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. DEA and LCA were used to quantify and compare environmental indicators before and after efficiency improvements were applied to the farms. To accomplish this, efficient and inefficient farms were identified using DEA. Then environmental emissions were measured again after inefficient farms reached the efficiency limit through management improvements. The results showed that by managing resource use, both energy consumption and environmental emissions can be reduced without yield loss. The initial amount of energy consumed averaged 13,443 MJ/ha while that consumed in the optimal state was determined to be 12,509 MJ/h, resulting in a savings of 934 MJ/ha. Based on the results of DEA, reductions in nitrogen fertilizer, diesel fuel, and phosphate fertilizer offered the greatest possibilities for energy savings. Combining DEA and LCA showed that efficient resource management could reduce emissions important to abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), human toxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity, global warming (GWP100a), freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, and terrestrial ecotoxicity. This study contributes toward systematically building knowledge about crop production with the joint use of LCA + DEA for eco-efficiency assessment.
Zahra Payandeh; Ahmad Jahanbakhshi; Tarahom Mesri-Gundoshmian; Sean Clark. Improving Energy Efficiency of Barley Production Using Joint Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Optimization Approach. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6082 .
AMA StyleZahra Payandeh, Ahmad Jahanbakhshi, Tarahom Mesri-Gundoshmian, Sean Clark. Improving Energy Efficiency of Barley Production Using Joint Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Optimization Approach. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6082.
Chicago/Turabian StyleZahra Payandeh; Ahmad Jahanbakhshi; Tarahom Mesri-Gundoshmian; Sean Clark. 2021. "Improving Energy Efficiency of Barley Production Using Joint Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Evaluation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Optimization Approach." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6082.
We present a meta-analysis of energy-consumption and environmental-emissions patterns in Iranian cropping systems using data collected from articles published between 2008 and 2018 for 21 different crops. The results show that the crops consuming the most energy per hectare are tomato, sugarcane, cucumber and alfalfa, while sunflower consumed the least. The average total energy input for all crops in Iran during the study period was 48,029 MJ ha−1. Our analysis revealed that potato has the highest potential to reduce energy consumption and that electricity and fertilizer inputs have the most potential for energy savings in cropping systems. Not all studies reviewed addressed the factors that create energy consumption patterns and environmental emissions. Therefore, eight indicators were modeled in this meta-analysis, which include Total Energy Input, Energy Productivity, Energy Use Efficiency, Net Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Technical Efficiency, Pure Technical Efficiency and Scale Efficiency. The effects of region (which was analyzed in terms of climate), year and crop or product type on these eight indicators were modeled using meta-regression and the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. To create a comprehensive picture and roadmap for future research, the process of the agricultural-systems analysis cycle is discussed. This review and meta-analysis can be used as a guide to provide useful information to researchers working on the energy dynamics of agricultural systems, especially in Iran, and in making their choices of crop types and regions in need of study.
Morteza Zangeneh; Narges Banaeian; Sean Clark. Meta-Analysis on Energy-Use Patterns of Cropping Systems in Iran. Sustainability 2021, 13, 3868 .
AMA StyleMorteza Zangeneh, Narges Banaeian, Sean Clark. Meta-Analysis on Energy-Use Patterns of Cropping Systems in Iran. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (7):3868.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMorteza Zangeneh; Narges Banaeian; Sean Clark. 2021. "Meta-Analysis on Energy-Use Patterns of Cropping Systems in Iran." Sustainability 13, no. 7: 3868.
This systematic review critically analyzes the literature on the study of energy-use patterns in agricultural crop systems in Iran. We examine the relevant methodologies and research trends from 2008 to 2019, a particularly active and productive period. Initially, we find researchers using energy audits and regression modeling to estimate energy-use patterns. Then economic and environmental-emissions audits are more commonly incorporated into analyses. Finally, the application of different Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods are observed in papers. The main focus of this study is on energy-use patterns, economic modelling, and environmental emissions. We then address critical issues, including sample size, energy equivalents, and additional practical energy-saving recommendations which can be considered by researchers in future analyses. The application of AI in the analysis of agricultural systems, and how it can be used to achieve sustainable agriculture, is discussed with the aim of providing guidelines for researchers interested in energy flow in agricultural systems, especially in Iran. To achieve sustainable agriculture systems, we recommend more attention be given toward considering the impact of social factors in addition to energy, environmental and economic factors. Finally, this review should guide other researchers in choosing appropriate crop types and regions in need study to avoid repetitive studies.
Narges Banaeian; Morteza Zangeneh; Sean Clark. Trends and Future Directions in Crop Energy Analyses: A Focus on Iran. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10002 .
AMA StyleNarges Banaeian, Morteza Zangeneh, Sean Clark. Trends and Future Directions in Crop Energy Analyses: A Focus on Iran. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):10002.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNarges Banaeian; Morteza Zangeneh; Sean Clark. 2020. "Trends and Future Directions in Crop Energy Analyses: A Focus on Iran." Sustainability 12, no. 23: 10002.
Organic agriculture has experienced remarkable growth in recent decades as societal interest in environmental protection and healthy eating has increased. Research has shown that relative to conventional agriculture, organic farming is more efficient in its use of non-renewable energy, maintains or improves soil quality, and has less of a detrimental effect on water quality and biodiversity. Studies have had more mixed findings, however, when examining the impact of organic farming on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Life cycle assessments (LCAs) in particular have indicated that organic farming can often result in higher GHG emissions per unit product as a result of lower yields. The organic movement has the opportunity to embrace the science of LCA and use this information in developing tools for site-specific assessments that can point toward strategies for improvements. Responding effectively to the climate change crisis should be at the core of the organic movement’s values. Additionally, while societal-level behavioral and policy changes will be required to reduce waste and shift diets to achieve essential reductions in GHG emissions throughout food systems, organic farming should be open to seriously considering emerging technologies and methods to improve its performance and reduce GHG emissions at the production stage.
Sean Clark. Organic Farming and Climate Change: The Need for Innovation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 7012 .
AMA StyleSean Clark. Organic Farming and Climate Change: The Need for Innovation. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (17):7012.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSean Clark. 2020. "Organic Farming and Climate Change: The Need for Innovation." Sustainability 12, no. 17: 7012.
Value-added processing and direct marketing are commonly recommended strategies for increasing income and improving the economic viability of small farms. This case study uses partial budgeting to examine the performance of an on-farm store in Kentucky (USA) over a six-year period (2014–2019), intended for adding value to raw farm ingredients through processing and direct sales to consumers. Three primary product supply chains were aggregated, stored, processed, and sold through the farm store: livestock (meats), grains (flours and meals), and fresh produce (fruits, vegetables, and herbs). In addition, prepared foods were made largely from the farm’s ingredients and sold as ready-to-eat meals. Whole-farm income increased substantially as a result of the farm-store enterprise but the costs of operation exceeded the added income in every year of the study, illustrating the challenges to small farms in achieving a sufficient economy of scale in value-added enterprises. By the final two years of the study period, the enterprise was approaching break-even status. Ready-to-eat items, initially accounting for a small fraction total sales, were the most important product category by the end of the study period. This study highlights the importance of adaptability in the survival and growth of a value-adding enterprise as well as the critical role of subsidies in establishing similar enterprises, particularly in low-income, rural areas.
Sean Clark. Financial Viability of an On-Farm Processing and Retail Enterprise: A Case Study of Value-Added Agriculture in Rural Kentucky (USA). Sustainability 2020, 12, 708 .
AMA StyleSean Clark. Financial Viability of an On-Farm Processing and Retail Enterprise: A Case Study of Value-Added Agriculture in Rural Kentucky (USA). Sustainability. 2020; 12 (2):708.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSean Clark. 2020. "Financial Viability of an On-Farm Processing and Retail Enterprise: A Case Study of Value-Added Agriculture in Rural Kentucky (USA)." Sustainability 12, no. 2: 708.