University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland and University of Évora, Portugal
Abstract
This chapter presents some results obtained in the KBBE.2011.4-04 project
“Energy Efficiency in Agriculture - AGREE” supported by the 7th Framework
Program. It gives an overview into energy use and energy efficiency in wheat
production in various agro-climatic zones of Europe. Among cereals, wheat is the
crop with the largest cultivated area in Europe. In 2008, the percentage share of
the area occupied by common and durum wheat in the countries analysed in the
AGREE project ranged from 2.4% in Portugal to 18.9% in Germany (Gołaszewski et
al., 2012). The different production systems in different climates vary substantially
in their energy use and energy saving potential. A showcase of conventional wheat
production in Portugal, where in 2012 it was cultivated in 54,761 ha (INE, 2013), is
presented and some production alternatives are analysed. The main objective was
to analyse the effect in the economic results, energy consumption and
environmental impacts of three wheat production systems alternatives: 1. no
tillage cropping systems, 2. reduction of phosphorous application and 3. the use
of supplemental irrigation
