Abstract

MORALES A, Rodrigo A; ZOROGASTUA C, Percy; DE MENDIBURU, Felipe  and  QUIROZ, Roberto. Mechanized production of maize, sweet potato and cassava in the Peruvian Desert Coast: Estimation of the carbon footprint and mitigation proposals. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2018, vol.17, n.1, pp.13-21. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v17i1.1169.

The objective of the study was to estimate the carbon footprint (CFP) in the mechanized production of maize, sweet potato and cassava, and to identify and propose mitigation options in the coast of Peru. A survey was conducted in 100 producers from Barranca and Cañete in the Lima region. All production and crop protection practices were registered. The estimation was then conducted with the Excel-based in simulation model; Cool Farm Tool (CFT). Maize in Barranca registered the highest quantity of tillage and applications of pesticides. In both locations, middle to high doses of N were applied to maize whereas sweet potato and cassava received only high doses. When CO₂ emissions due to transportation were included in the analyses, farms cultivating cassava in Barranca generated the largest CFP of 267 kg CO₂eq·t^-1 (adding 132 kg CO₂eq·t^-1 ). This addition was similar for all crops. The main sources of greenhouse gases emission (GHE) for all three crops were application (49%), and production (38%) of fertilizers, followed by the use of pesticides (13%). Mitigation options simulated with the CCAFS-MOT included the use of minimum tillage, incorporation of agricultural residues, use of processed organic fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors. By incorporating the four mitigation options GHG reductions in 42%, 22% and 26% were estimated for maize, sweet potato and cassava, respectively.

Keywords : CO₂; CH_u; N₂O; energy costs; fertilizers; pesticides; Barranca; Cañete.

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