Huang W.Z, 2024, Balancing agricultural energy inputs and outputs: optimization strategies and sustainable development, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(3): 160-170 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0016)

This study involves assessing various agricultural practices and their energy efficiencies, environmental impacts, and potential for optimization. The study reveals several key findings across different agricultural systems. For instance, the use of multi-objective optimization algorithms in walnut production can significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental emissions, with gasoline being the most energy-saving input. Similarly, the introduction of cover crops as living mulch in Mediterranean organic cropping systems enhances energy outputs without increasing energy consumption, thereby improving energy efficiency. In cotton production, the major energy consumers are chemical fertilizers, diesel fuel, and irrigation water, with significant greenhouse gas emissions associated with these inputs. The study also highlights that sustainable soil and crop management strategies can optimize crop yield while minimizing environmental impacts. Furthermore, countries with higher organic production and input-intensive strategies show better progress towards sustainable development goals. In wheat production, optimizing energy inputs can lead to significant energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Long-term field experiments indicate that fertilization and crop rotation can substantially improve energy efficiency in crop production. Finally, different fertilization methods in organic and sustainable farming show varying impacts on energy use efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and cost-effectiveness. The findings suggest that optimizing agricultural energy inputs and outputs through various strategies can significantly enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and promote sustainable development. Implementing these optimization strategies can help achieve a balance between agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability.