Agriculture

Findings from Aristotle University Advance Knowledge in Greenhouse Gases

  2012 JUN 7 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Agriculture Week -- Data detailed on Greenhouse Gases have been presented. According to news originating from Thessaloniki, Greece, by VerticalNews correspondents, researchers stated "Recently, the increased cost of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions has attracted the interest of many scientists to study the energy use in agricultural systems. Energy analysis in white asparagus farms is useful to decide best management strategies."

  Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research by the authors from Aristotle University, "The objectives of this study were to evaluate a) the energy flow among conventional, integrated and organic farming systems and b) the effect of farming system to greenhouse gas emissions. Eleven farms (three conventional, five integrated, three organic) at nine locations in Greece were selected during 2007-2008. Multidimensional data analyses were used to detect a) clusters of farming systems and b) associations between field operations and production coefficients variables. Three clusters of farming systems and four groups of variables were revealed. Nonparametric tests concerning external variables (outputs, energy efficiency, spear production, CO2, CH4, and N2O) showed that the three clusters of farming systems were not statistically different relative to output and energy efficiency variables but spear productions and gas emissions were lower for the organic farming cluster."

  According to the news editors, the researchers concluded: "The results showed that organic farming could reduce inputs and gas emissions."

  For more information on this research see: Analysis of energy flow and greenhouse gas emissions in organic, integrated and conventional cultivation of white asparagus by PCA and HCA: cases in Greece. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2012;29-30():20-27. Journal of Cleaner Production can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, Oxon, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Journal of Cleaner Production - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/30440)

  The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from P. Zafiriou, Aristotle University, Lab Agr Engn, Fac Agr, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece.

  Keywords for this news article include: Greece, Europe, Thessaloniki, Climate Change, Global Warming, Greenhouse Gases

  Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world. Copyright 2012, NewsRx LLC