ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Effects of Different Tillage Systems
on Fuel Savings and Reduction of CO2 Emissions
in Production of Silage Corn in Eastern Slovenia
D. Stajnko1, M. Lakota1, F. Vučajnk2, R. Bernik2
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1University of Maribor, Faculty of Agriculture, Vrbanska 30, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
2University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2009;18(4):711-716
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ABSTRACT
Soil tillage is one of the greatest energy consumers in agriculture and also a significant contributor to
CO2 emissions. For this reason, field experiments with different tillage systems and their influence on fuel consumption
and CO2 emissions were carried out at two locations in Eastern Slovenia. Three tillage methods were
researched: direct seeding after gliphosat spraying (DS-G), reduced tillage with chisel plough and seeding
(RT), and conventional tillage with mouldboard plough, rotary harrow and seeding (CT). The testing crop was
corn silage (Zea mays L.) in rotation after ryegrass. The highest fuel consumption was under the CT system;
the CO2 emission was 225.03 kg ha-1 on silty clay loam and 188.06 kg ha-1 on silty loam. The use of the DSG
system saved on average 164.41 kg ha-1 of diesel oil and the use of the RT system, 104.77 kg ha-1. At both
locations, the highest yield of dry matter was produced with CT, followed by DS-G and RT; however, on silty
clay loam the difference was significant. The alternative soil tillage reduced the CO2 emission on average by
79.45% (DS-G) and 61.07% (RT). Presuming the use of the CT system in the growing of corn silage on arable
land of Eastern Slovenia would decrease from its current 93.7% by 30% as forecasted under the EU soil tillage
trend, the total annual emissions of CO2 could be reduced by 1.08 Gg, or 24.0%.