Designing energy-efficient, economically sustainable and environmentally safe cropping system for the rainfed maize–fallow land of the Eastern Himalayas

Achieving a circular economic model in agriculture and meeting the food requirement of the growing population is a global challenge. The task is much more daunting in the Eastern Himalaya where low productive maize–fallow is a predominant production system. To enhance system productivity and energy use efficiency while maintaining environmental sustainability and economic profitability, therefore, energy-efficient, low carbon footprint (CF; CO2-e) and profitable short duration crops must be made an integral part of the maize fallow system. Thus, six cropping systems viz., maize–fallow, maize–French bean, maize–soybean, maize–black gram, maize–green gram, and maize–toria were evaluated for seven consecutive years (2011–2018) to assess their energy requirement and efficiency, carbon footprint (CF; CO2-e), economic returns and eco-efficiency. The results revealed that the maize–French bean system had the highest system productivity (11.4 Mg ha−1), energy productivity (17.9), energy profitability (15.9) and non-renewable energy use efficiency (9.97). The maize–French bean system had also the highest net profit (US$ 3764.5 ha−1) and benefit to cost ratio (2.54). The energy consumed under different inputs/activities across the cropping systems for chemical fertilizers, diesel and machinery ranged from 50.0–62.7%, 17.3–20.8% and 4.6–15.4%, respectively. The maize–fallow system had the highest CF (0.34 kg CO2 e per kg grain) while, the maize–French bean system had the lowest CF (0.19 kg CO2 e per kg grain). The maize–French bean system had also considerably increased eco-efficiency both in terms of energy use (US$ 0.23 MJ−1) and (US$ 1.78 per kg CO2 e) over maize–fallow system. Thus, the study has suggested that maize–French bean system is energy-efficient, economically viable and environmentally safer systems to utilize maize fallow and improve food security, may help in achieving green/circular economy.

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