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Farm Energy IQ

Farms Today Securing Our Energy Future

Energy Conservation in Field Crop Production

Zane R. Helsel, PhD, Extension Specialist, Rutgers University

Fuel Savings in Field Operations

Photo credit: http://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Photos/get/3647/full/Leyendecker_research.jpg

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Energy in Trillions of BTU Field Machinery Transportation Irrigation Livestock Crop Drying Pesticides Fertilizers

Energy Use in U.S. Production Agriculture

Source: USDA/FEA. 1976. Energy and U.S. Agriculture: 1974 Database (v. I), FEA/D-76/459. Washington, DC.: USGPO

• 1. Top off tank
• 2. Conduct field operation
• n a certain acreage
• 3. Refill tank and record

gallons

• 4. Divide gallons of fuel by

acreage (gals/acre)

• 5. Compare usage to the

benchmarks for similar

• perations (next slide)

Steps to Determine Fuel Use

Photo credit: C. MiKittrick , NJAES, Rutgers University

Benchmark fuel usage by type of

• peration

If > 10% more than average, determine why

How does your usage compare?

• Consult Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory

(NTTL) data

Buying a New/Used tractor

Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory Reports

Source: Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory website: http://tractortestlab.unl.edu/

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 hp-hr/gal Gal/hr Horsepower Gallons/Hour HP-Hours/Gallon

Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory data

Generic adaptation from http://www.tractordata.com

Tillage System Equipment Fuel Use

Match Tractor and Implement—use small (older) tractors for light jobs

Photo credit: Rachel Brickner http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NAA_pulling_hay_rake.jpg#filehistory

Match Tractor and Implement—use large tractors for combination tillage tools

Photo credit: http://extension.udel.edu

Match Tractor and Equipment

Use pony engines or alternative gearing with large tractor pulling sprayer or similar

• Use least energy-requiring equipment to

accomplish task.

• Example: Use a chisel plow instead of a

moldboard plow to save ½ gal fuel/acre

Alternative Equipment

Make equipment adjustments to reduce draft (energy)

Proper Tillage Depth

Plow layer 6 2/3 inches

Photo adapted from Kevan Klingberg, University of Wisconsin Extension

Primary tillage Secondary tillage (1/2 depth of primary)

Tillage Depth

Gear Up/Throttle Down

Use highest gear and lowest RPMs in older tractors (no visible soot) Throttle down Gear up

New Tractors—Constant Variable Transmission (CVT) Replaces Gear/Throttle

Photo credit: Margy Eckelkamp/Farm Journal Media

Wheel Slippage

10% < 10-15% >15%

Wheel Slip

1.10 < < 1.15 Wheel circumference (ft) X Number of rotations Field pass length (ft)

Proper Weight/Ballasts - don’t use if not needed

Source: http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/2/2b/Tractor_ballast.JPG

Engage 4WD Only When Needed

Photo credit: C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers University

• Turn less
• Use long narrow fields
• Eliminate fence

rows/obstructions

Fuel Efficiency Practices

Source: http://lib.niu.edu/

• Don’t speed!
• 3-8 mph optimal

Tillage/Planting

Source: http://fyi.uwex.edu/

Use same wheel tracks for all

• perations to reduce area of

compaction and produce less wheel slip

Controlled Wheel Traffic

Photo : David Wright http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/922200 geograph.org.uk

Fuel Storage—Reduce Evaporation

• Store in cool, dry location
• Under canopy or tree
• White or metallic gray tank color
• Underground, if permitted
• Use fuel additives if stored for long periods of time

Photo : C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers Univ Source: http://www.extension.org

Photo credit: http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/4/4a/Spreading_manure.jpg

Conserving Energy in Nutrient Use and Pest Control

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Energy in Trillions of BTU Field Machinery Transportation Irrigation Livestock Crop Drying Pesticides Fertilizers

Energy Use in U.S. Production Agriculture

Source: USDA/FEA. 1976. Energy and U.S. Agriculture: 1974 Database (v. I), FEA/D-76/459. Washington, DC.: USGPO

• Test soil
• Use less!!!
• Calibrate equipment
• Apply organic alternatives—manure, legumes
• Use efficiently (reduce losses)
• Fertigation
• Practice soil conservation techniques

Conserving Nutrients

Source: http://passel.unl.edu/UserFiles/File/Crp.%20Prod.%20Nat.%20Res.%20Mngmt/Soils%20Lesson%2010/Fig-10.1.gif

Crop Yield Response to Soil Fertility Levels

Crop (units) N P2O5 K2O Corn (bu) 1 0.4 0.3 Corn silage (T)1 7 5.0 11.0 Grain sorghum (bu) 0.75 0.6 0.8 Forage sorghum (T)1 7 3.0 10.0 Sorghum/sudangrass1 7 7.0 7.0 Alfalfa (T)2,3 15.0 50.0 Red Clover (T)2,3 15.0 40.0 Trefoil (T)2,3 15.0 40.0 Cool-season grass (T)2,3 50 15.0 50.0 Bluegrass (T)2,3 10.0 30.0 Wheat/rye (bu)4 1 1.0 1.8 Oats (bu)4 0.8 0.9 1.5 Barley (bu)4 0.8 0.6 1.5 Soybeans (bu) 1.0 1.4 Small grain silage (T)1 17 7.0 26.0 Per Unit of Yield

Know Crop Needs

• 1. 65% moisture 2. For legume-grass mixtures, use the predominate species in the mixture 3. 10% moisture. 4.

Includes straw Source: Tables 1.2-5 & 1.2-8 2013-2014 PSU Agronomy Guide

Banding Fertilizer

Source: http://ncagr.gov

Calibrate Equipment

http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/3/3b/Limed_field.JPG

pH Management-Lime

Source: http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/w/5/50/Sweet_clover_cover_crop.jpg

Use Legumes

Residual Nitrogen Contribution from Legumes Previous crop1 Percent stand Highly- productivity fields Moderate- productivity fields Low- productivity fields First year after alfalfa Nitrogen credit (lb./acre) >50 120 110 80 25-49 80 70 60 <25 40 40 40 First year after clover or trefoil >50 90 80 60 25-49 60 60 50 <25 40 40 40 First year after soybeans harvested for grain 1 lb. N/bu soybean produced previous year

(1) When a previous legume crop is checked on the Penn State soil test sheet, the residual nitrogen for the year following the legume is calculated and given on the report. This credit should be deducted from the N recommendation on the soil

• test. (2) See Table 1.1-1 in the basic soil test section for information on soil production groups. Adapted from 2013-2014

Penn State Agronomy Guide.

Source: http://www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/livestock/photos/BMPs/liqmaninj.jpg

• Test for nutrient

availability

• Incorporate into soil
• Apply close to crop

growth needs

• Calibrate equipment

Using Manures

Source: 2013-2014 PSU Agronomy Guide

Source: 2013-2014 PSU Agronomy Guide

Source: 2013-2014 PSU Agronomy Guide

Source: PSU Agronomy Guide

Source: 2013-2014 PSU Agronomy Guide

• Integrated pest management

– Determine presence of pests – Know life cycles – Know which crops they can impact

Pest Control

Pest damage Susceptible host Virulent pest Favorable environment Pest Triangle

Understand Pest Cycles and Interactions

Source: Helsel, Zane R. (2006) Energy in Pesticide Production and Use, Encyclopedia of Pest Management, 1:1, 1-4. Taylor & Francis, London. Pesticide Btu/lb. Application rate Btu/acre (x 1000) (lb./acre) (x 1000) Herbicides 2,4-D 36.5 0.50 18.3 Alachlor 119.5 2.50 297.5 Atrazine 81.7 1.50 122.6 Bentazon 186.6 1.00 186.6 Chlorsulfuron 157.0 0.03 3.9 Dicamba 126.9 0.75 95.2 Diquat 172.0 0.50 86.0 Diuron 116.1 2.00 232.2 EPTC 68.8 4.00 275.2 Fluazifop-butyl 222.7 0.25 55.7 Glyphosate 195.2 1.00 195.2 MCPA 55.9 0.50 28.0 Metolachlor 118.7 1.50 178.1 Paraquat 193.5 0.50 96.8 Trifluralin 64.5 1.00 64.5 Fungicides Captan 49.5 3.25 160.9 Ferbam 26.2 8.00 209.6 Maneb 42.6 4.00 170.4 Insecticides Carbaryl 65.8 1.50 32.9 Cypermethrin 249.4 0.25 62.4 Malathion 98.5 1.25 123.1 Phorate 89.9 2.50 224.8

Estimates of Energy from Pesticide Manufacturing through Application

Fertigation and Chemigation (Photo: C. Mckittrick, NJAES, Rutgers University)

Effective Application of Pest Control Products

• Lowest labeled

rate needed (early application)

• Low volume

sprayers

• Chemigation

Mechanical vs. Chemical Weed Control

Energy use for producing and applying glyphosate to corn and soybeans is about equal to energy use in rotary hoeing and two row cultivations.

Photo: http://www.organicriskmanagement.umn.edu/weed_management.pdf

Energy Efficiency in Irrigation

Photo: http://www.clemson.edu/irrig/images/SHTrav8.jpg

• Use least amount of water necessary
• Apply water efficiently

Opportunities to Reduce Energy

• Each crop requires different amounts at

different times

• Crop growth stage (canopy, rooting depth)
• Weather conditions (evapotranspiration

caused by temperature, relative humidity, wind, sun, day length)

Crop Needs

Source: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/crops/04720.html

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/evans/ag452-1.html

Average Root Depth of Corn and Soybeans at Various Growth Stages

Corn Stage Effective root depth* (feet) Soybean Stage Effective root depth (feet) V10-12 2.0 V6 1 V16-VT 2.5 R1 1.5 R1 3.0 R3 2.0 R2 3.5 R6 2.0+ R3-5 4.0

*Rooting depth maybe less due to compaction or limiting soil profile restrictions.

Source: National Corn Handbook

• Available water holding capacity
• Infiltration rate
• Depth restrictions

Soil Water Management

Available Water Holding Capacity

Soil in./ft. Sandy clay loam 2.0 Silty clay loam 1.8 Clay loam 1.8 Loam Very fine sandy loam Silt loam 2.0 Loam Very fine sandy loam Silt loam 2.5 Fine sandy loam 1.8 Sandy loam 1.4 Loamy sand 1.1 Fine sands 1.0 Silty clay, clay 1.6

Source: Adapted from the National Corn Handbook

Low OM High OM

Suggested Maximum Water Intake for Various Soil Types

Soil Types Intake rate* in./hr. Sands 2.0 Loamy sands 1.8 Sand loams 1.5 Loams 1.0 Slit and clay loams 0.5 Clays 0.2

* Assumes a full crop cover. For bare soil reduce the rate by one-half Source: Michigan State University CES Ag Fact 137

Measuring Available Soil H2O

• Feel method
• “Checkbook”
• Tensiometers (light soils)
• Moisture blocks (heavy soil)

www.aces.nmsu.edu

www.aces.nmsu.edu

http://aces.nmsu.edu/

• Energy efficient power

units

• Choice of pumps
• Reduce resistance/head
• Monitor efficiency
• Maintenance of system

components

Pumps and Plumbing

Photo: C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers Univ

• Types

– Centrifugal-surface waters – Submersed turbines-deepwell – Others

• Power units

– Electrical – Diesel

Pumps

• Use pressure gauges
• Appropriate valves
• Check for leaks/restrictions
• Limit reducers, elbows
• Monitor coverage
• Provide uniform delivery
• Maintain system components

Plumbing

Grain Drying

Managing harvest conditions Drying process efficiency

Source: http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Management/images/L033/DryingBin.jpg

• Variety/hybrid selection
• Combining

–Proper cylinder/concave settings and fan speeds –Reduce stover throughput –Minimize splits and cracks –Desiccate weeds, if necessary

Harvest Practices to Promote Efficient Drying

• Clean and service motors, heating units, fans
• Bin cleaning
• Proper grain loading
• Natural air, if possible
• Temperature—follow crop specs
• Dryeration or similar concepts
• Maintain moisture equilibrium throughout

storage

Drying

Estimated Drying Energy Requirements by Dryer Type Dryer type Btu/lb. of water removed Natural air 1000-1200 Low temperature 1200-1500 Batch-in-bin 1500-2000 High temperature Air recirculating 1800-2200 No air recirculating 2000-3000

Source: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/graindrying/publications/ae-701-grain-drying

Source: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/graindrying/publications/ae-701-grain-drying

Source: Purdue University Extension Service

Dryeration

Source: http://www.ruralenergy.wisc.edu/images/graindrying/High_Temp_Batch_Bin_Dryer.jpg

Fan Covers

Source: http://www.agndsu.edu/graindrying

• Efficient, high quality sources
• Natural gas
• Clean biogas
• LP gas/propane
• Acceptable sources that offer less control

and efficiency

• Fuel oil
• Biomass

Fuel Choices

Farm Energy IQ

Conserving Energy in Field Crop Production

Questions?