Land-use change in Indian tropical agro-ecosystems: eco-energy estimation for socio-ecological sustainability.
This study was carried out to understand the ecological and economic sustainability of floriculture and other main crops in Indian agro-ecosystems. The cultivation practices of four major flower crops, namely Jasminum multiflorum, Crossandra infundibuliformis, Chrysanthemum and Tagetes erecta, were studied in detail. The production cost of flowers in terms of energy was calculated to be 99,622-135,996 compared to 27,681-69,133 MJ ha-1for the main crops, namely Oryza sativa, Eleusine coracana, Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor. The highest-energy input amongst the crops was recorded for Z. mays (69,133 MJ ha-1) as this is a resource-demanding crop. However, flower cultivation requires approximately twice the energy required for the cultivation of Z. mays. In terms of both energy and monetary inputs, flower cultivation needs two to three times the requirements of the main crops cultivated in the region. The monetary inputs for main crop cultivation were calculated to be ₹ 27,349 to ₹ 46,930 as compared to flower crops (₹ 62,540 to ₹ 144,355). Floriculture was found to be more efficient in monetary terms when compared to the main crops cultivated in the region. However, the energy efficiency of flower crops is lower than that of the main crops, and the energy output from flower cultivation was found to be declining in tropical agro-ecosystems in India. Amongst the various inputs, farmyard manure accounts for the highest proportion, and for its preparation, most of the raw material comes from the surrounding ecosystems. Thus, flower cultivation has a direct impact on the ecosystem resource flow. Therefore, keeping the economic and environmental sustainability in view, this study indicates that a more field-based research is required to frame appropriate policies for flower cultivation to achieve sustainable socio-ecological development.
Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, 560 072, India. nautiyal_sunil@rediffmail.com.|Institute of Socioeconomics, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374, Muencheberg, Germany. nautiyal_sunil@rediffmail.com.
Sunil
S
Nautiyal
Institute of Socioeconomics, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374, Muencheberg, Germany.
Harald
H
Kaechele
School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110 067, India.
M S
MS
Umesh Babu
Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, 560 072, India.
Pavan
P
Tikhile
Technology Information, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), 'A' Wing, Vishwakarma Bhavan, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, New Delhi, 110016, India.
Sangeeta
S
Baksi
D000383:Agriculture; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development; D004463:Ecology; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D035264:Flowers; D007194:India; D008372:Manure; D012275:Oryza; D045868:Sorghum; D003313:Zea mays
D008372:Manure
Crop cultivation; Energy economics; Floriculture; Land use; Sustainable socio-ecology; Tropical agro-ecosystems