Sustainable Farming Versus Ethanol: A Comparison of Energy Use

<p>The subsidization of corn-ethanol has proven to not live up to the original promises made when it was promoted as gasoline additive. With research pointing to ethanol as a source of increased greenhouse gases emissions and other pollution while merely changing energy consumption, not decreasing it, an alternative that achieves the original goals of is sought. I propose that sustainable farming practices have the ability to decrease the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels while decreasing emissions and pollution related to farming. By looking at the adoption of 3 year rotations, fertilizer banding, and zero tillage farming in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota, I find a significant decrease in energy consumption and pesticide, herbicide, and synthetic fertilizer use through decrease in field operation and conservation of soil tilth. The adoption of these sustainable practices in these four states has the ability to conserve the energy equivalent of over 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year. Current promotion of diverse cropping systems and minimal tillage through policy by the United States Department of Agriculture shows that these sustainable farming practices are applicable in other regions throughout the United States.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Weiland, Brandon John

Contributors dc:contributor

• Chiara Piovani, Ph.D.
• Andrew Goetz
• Markus Schneider
• Tracy Mott

• Ethanol
• Fuel savings
• Sustainable farming
• Behavioral Economics
• Economics
• Environmental Studies

Statement dc:rights

• <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/695

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-1694