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Title: Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cropland Production in the United States, 1990-2004

Abstract

Changes in cropland production and management influence energy consumption and emissions of CO2 from fossil-fuel combustion. A method was developed to calculate on-site and off-site energy and CO2 emissions for cropping practices in the US at the county scale. Energy consumption and emissions occur on-site from the operation of farm machinery and occur off-site from the manufacture and transport of cropland production inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural lime. Estimates of fossil-fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions for cropping practices enable (a) the monitoring of energy and emissions with changes in land management, and (b) the calculation and balancing of regional and national carbon budgets. Results indicate on-site energy use and total energy use (i.e., the sum of on-site and off-site) on US croplands in 2004 ranged from 1.6-7.9 GJ ha-1 yr-1 and from 5.5-20.5 GJ ha-1 yr-1, respectively. On-site and total CO2 emissions in 2004 ranged from 23-176 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and from 91-365 kg C ha-1 yr-1, respectively. During the period of this analysis (1990-2004), national total energy consumption for crop production ranged from 1204-1297 PJ yr-1 (Petajoule = 1 1015 Joule) with associated total fossil CO2 emissions ranging from 22.0-23.2 Tg C yr-1 (Teragram =more » 1 1012 gram). The annual proportion of on-site CO2 to total CO2 emissions changed depending on the diversity of crops planted. Adoption of reduced tillage practices in the US from 1990 to 2004 resulted in a net emissions reduction of 2.4 Tg C.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Work for Others (WFO); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
OSTI Identifier:
948852
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Environmental Quality
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 38; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 0047-2425
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CARBON DIOXIDE; EMISSION; CROPS; ENERGY CONSUMPTION; FARMS; FERTILIZERS; MACHINERY; MONITORING; PRODUCTION; FOSSIL FUELS

Citation Formats

West, Tristram O., Brandt, Craig C, Marland, Gregg, Nelson, Richard G, Hellwinckel, Chad M, and De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G. Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cropland Production in the United States, 1990-2004. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
West, Tristram O., Brandt, Craig C, Marland, Gregg, Nelson, Richard G, Hellwinckel, Chad M, & De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G. Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cropland Production in the United States, 1990-2004. United States.
West, Tristram O., Brandt, Craig C, Marland, Gregg, Nelson, Richard G, Hellwinckel, Chad M, and De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G. 2009. "Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cropland Production in the United States, 1990-2004". United States.
@article{osti_948852,
title = {Energy Use and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Cropland Production in the United States, 1990-2004},
author = {West, Tristram O. and Brandt, Craig C and Marland, Gregg and Nelson, Richard G and Hellwinckel, Chad M and De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G},
abstractNote = {Changes in cropland production and management influence energy consumption and emissions of CO2 from fossil-fuel combustion. A method was developed to calculate on-site and off-site energy and CO2 emissions for cropping practices in the US at the county scale. Energy consumption and emissions occur on-site from the operation of farm machinery and occur off-site from the manufacture and transport of cropland production inputs, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural lime. Estimates of fossil-fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions for cropping practices enable (a) the monitoring of energy and emissions with changes in land management, and (b) the calculation and balancing of regional and national carbon budgets. Results indicate on-site energy use and total energy use (i.e., the sum of on-site and off-site) on US croplands in 2004 ranged from 1.6-7.9 GJ ha-1 yr-1 and from 5.5-20.5 GJ ha-1 yr-1, respectively. On-site and total CO2 emissions in 2004 ranged from 23-176 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and from 91-365 kg C ha-1 yr-1, respectively. During the period of this analysis (1990-2004), national total energy consumption for crop production ranged from 1204-1297 PJ yr-1 (Petajoule = 1 1015 Joule) with associated total fossil CO2 emissions ranging from 22.0-23.2 Tg C yr-1 (Teragram = 1 1012 gram). The annual proportion of on-site CO2 to total CO2 emissions changed depending on the diversity of crops planted. Adoption of reduced tillage practices in the US from 1990 to 2004 resulted in a net emissions reduction of 2.4 Tg C.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/948852}, journal = {Journal of Environmental Quality},
issn = {0047-2425},
number = 2,
volume = 38,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009}
}