Farm Energy IQ. Energy Use in U.S. Production Agriculture. Steps to Determine Fuel Use. How does your usage compare? 2/23/2015

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1 Fuel Savings in Field Operations Farm Energy IQ Farms Today Securing Our Energy Future Energy Conservation in Field Crop Production Zane R. Helsel, PhD, Extension Specialist, Rutgers University Photo credit: Energy Use in U.S. Production Agriculture Field Machinery 500 Transportation Irrigation 400 Livestock 300 Crop Drying 200 Pesticides 100 Fertilizers 0 Energy in Trillions of BTU Steps to Determine Fuel Use 1. Top off tank 2. Conduct field operation on 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 operations (next slide) Photo credit: C. MiKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers University Source: USDA/FEA Energy and U.S. Agriculture: 1974 Database (v. I), FEA/D-76/459. Washington, DC.: USGPO How does your usage compare? If > 10% more than average, determine why Benchmark fuel usage by type of operation 1

2 Buying a New/Used tractor Consult Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory (NTTL) data Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory Reports Source: Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory website: Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory data Tillage System Equipment Fuel Use Gal/hr Gallons/Hour HP-Hours/Gallon hp-hr/gal Horsepower Generic adaptation from Match Tractor and Implement use small (older) tractors for light jobs Match Tractor and Implement use large tractors for combination tillage tools Photo credit: Rachel Brickner Photo credit: 2

3 Match Tractor and Equipment Use pony engines or alternative gearing with large tractor pulling sprayer or similar Alternative Equipment Use least energy-requiring equipment to accomplish task. Example: Use a chisel plow instead of a moldboard plow to save ½ gal fuel/acre Proper Tillage Depth Make equipment adjustments to reduce draft (energy) Plow layer 6 2 / 3 inches Photo adapted from Kevan Klingberg, University of Wisconsin Extension Tillage Depth Gear Up/Throttle Down Use highest gear and lowest RPMs in older tractors (no visible soot) Secondary tillage (1/2 depth of primary) Throttle down Gear up Primary tillage 3

4 New Tractors Constant Variable Transmission (CVT) Replaces Gear/Throttle Wheel Slippage 10% < 10-15% >15% Photo credit: Margy Eckelkamp/Farm Journal Media Wheel Slip Proper Weight/Ballasts - don t use if not needed Wheel circumference (ft) X Number of rotations 1.10 < < 1.15 Field pass length (ft) Source: Engage 4WD Only When Needed Fuel Efficiency Practices Turn less Eliminate fence Use long narrow fields rows/obstructions Photo credit: C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers University Source: 4

5 Don t speed! 3-8 mph optimal Tillage/Planting Controlled Wheel Traffic Use same wheel tracks for all operations to reduce area of compaction and produce less wheel slip Source: Photo : David Wright 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 Conserving Energy in Nutrient Use and Pest Control Source: Photo : C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers Univ Photo credit: Energy Use in U.S. Production Agriculture Field Machinery 500 Transportation Irrigation 400 Livestock 300 Crop Drying 200 Pesticides 100 Fertilizers 0 Energy in Trillions of BTU Conserving Nutrients Test soil Use less!!! Calibrate equipment Apply organic alternatives manure, legumes Use efficiently (reduce losses) Fertigation Practice soil conservation techniques Source: USDA/FEA Energy and U.S. Agriculture: 1974 Database (v. I), FEA/D-76/459. Washington, DC.: USGPO 5

6 Crop Yield Response to Soil Fertility Levels Source: Know Crop Needs Per Unit of Yield Crop (units) N P 2O 5 K 2O Corn (bu) Corn silage (T) Grain sorghum (bu) Forage sorghum (T) Sorghum/sudangrass Alfalfa (T) 2, Red Clover (T) 2, Trefoil (T) 2, Cool-season grass (T) 2, Bluegrass (T) 2, Wheat/rye (bu) Oats (bu) Barley (bu) Soybeans (bu) Small grain silage (T) % moisture 2. For legume-grass mixtures, use the predominate species in the mixture 3. 10% moisture. 4. Includes straw Source: Tables & PSU Agronomy Guide Banding Fertilizer Calibrate Equipment ph Management-Lime Source: 6

7 Use Legumes Previous crop 1 First year after alfalfa First year after clover or trefoil First year after soybeans harvested for grain Residual Nitrogen Contribution from Legumes Percent stand Highlyproductivity fields Moderateproductivity fields Nitrogen credit (lb./acre) > < > < lb. N/bu soybean produced previous year Lowproductivity fields Source: (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 in the basic soil test section for information on soil production groups. Adapted from Penn State Agronomy Guide. Using Manures Test for nutrient availability Incorporate into soil Apply close to crop growth needs Calibrate equipment Source: Source: PSU Agronomy Guide Source: Source: PSU Agronomy Guide Guide Source: PSU Agronomy Guide Source: PSU Agronomy Guide 7

8 Pest Control Integrated pest management Determine presence of pests Know life cycles Know which crops they can impact Understand Pest Cycles and Interactions Pest Triangle Susceptible host Pest damage Virulent pest Favorable environment Estimates of Energy from Pesticide Manufacturing through Application 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 Alachlor Atrazine Bentazon Chlorsulfuron Dicamba Diquat Diuron EPTC Fluazifop-butyl Glyphosate MCPA Metolachlor Paraquat Trifluralin Fungicides Captan Ferbam Maneb Insecticides Carbaryl Cypermethrin Malathion Phorate Effective Application of Pest Control Products Lowest labeled rate needed (early application) Low volume sprayers Chemigation Fertigation and Chemigation (Photo: C. Mckittrick, NJAES, Rutgers University) 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. Energy Efficiency in Irrigation Photo: Photo: 8

9 Opportunities to Reduce Energy Use least amount of water necessary Apply water efficiently Crop Needs 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) Source: Average Root Depth of Corn and Soybeans at Various Corn Stage Growth Stages Effective root Soybean Stage depth* (feet) Effective root depth (feet) V V6 1 Soil Water Management Available water holding capacity Infiltration rate Depth restrictions V16-VT 2.5 R1 1.5 R1 3.0 R3 2.0 R2 3.5 R R *Rooting depth maybe less due to compaction or limiting soil profile restrictions. Source: National Corn Handbook 9

10 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 Low OM 2.0 Silt loam Loam Very fine sandy loam Silt loam High OM 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 2.5 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 H 2 O Feel method Checkbook Tensiometers (light soils) Moisture blocks (heavy soil) Tensiometer Moisture Block Pumps and Plumbing Energy efficient power units Choice of pumps Reduce resistance/head Monitor efficiency Maintenance of system components Photo: C. McKittrick, NJAES, Rutgers Univ Types Centrifugal-surface waters Submersed turbines-deepwell Others Pumps Power units Electrical Diesel Plumbing Use pressure gauges Appropriate valves Check for leaks/restrictions Limit reducers, elbows Monitor coverage Provide uniform delivery Maintain system components 10

11 Grain Drying Managing harvest conditions Drying process efficiency Harvest Practices to Promote Efficient Drying Variety/hybrid selection Combining Proper cylinder/concave settings and fan speeds Reduce stover throughput Minimize splits and cracks Desiccate weeds, if necessary Source: 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 Dryer type Estimated Drying Energy Requirements by Dryer Type Btu/lb. of water removed Natural air Low temperature Batch-in-bin High temperature Air recirculating No air recirculating Source: Dryeration Source: Source: Purdue University Extension Service 11

12 Fan Covers Source: Source: Fuel Choices Efficient, high quality sources Natural gas Clean biogas LP gas/propane Acceptable sources that offer less control and efficiency Fuel oil Biomass Farm Energy IQ Conserving Energy in Field Crop Production Questions? 12