Japanese Journal of Farm Work Research
Online ISSN : 1883-2261
Print ISSN : 0389-1763
ISSN-L : 0389-1763
Research paper
Integrated Sustainability Evaluation of Field Environment for the Combinations of Tillage and Cover Crop Practices by FAO-SAFA (Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems) Applied with a Modified Rating Method
Rica IMAFUKUMasakazu KOMATSUZAKITakahiro ITOYinghui MUHajime ARAKI
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2021 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 79-87

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Abstract

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems (SAFA) is a tool covering multiple fields, including the governance, the society, the economy, and the environment to assess the sustainability of agriculture. This system has an important feature, integrated evaluation with many indicators. In the present study, the evaluation of the sustainability of fields, Ibaraki University, with combined 3 types of tillage (plowing, rotary tillage, and no tillage) and 3 types of cover crop (fallow, rye, and hairy vetch) in the environmental dimension was performed using modified SAFA rating method. The objective numerical data in GHG (Greenhouse Gas) absorbance, soil properties and fuel consumption were used. Sustainability ranking was determined with SAFA method through data normalization. On comparison of the nine total combinations, no-tillage with rye as the cover crop had the highest rating and plowing with fallow had the lowest ranking. It revealed that no-tillage with use of cover crops would be the best management method to conserve the field environment.

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© 2021 Japanese Society of Farm Work Research
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