Energy in the Corn Belt: Is Maize Production Sustainable?

<p>Technological and scientific innovation has transformed agricultural production. Corn production methods changed from a sustainable, nutrient recycling production system to one reliant on imported fossil energy inputs. Located in the Western Corn Belt, Union County, South Dakota was chosen as the study area. Changes in production methods are represented by four technological epochs: 1) The Draft Horse Epoch, 1890-1920; 2) The Tractor Epoch, 1920-1950; 3) The Fertilizer Epoch, 1950-1980; and 4) The Biotechnology and Precision Agriculture Epoch, 1980-2010. The energy budget method was used to measure the energy sustainability of corn production. The findings show that the volume of corn grain yield credited to fossil fuels and inorganic fertilizer energy inputs represents the magnitude of the corn crop that is neither sustainable nor renewable. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geography

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Bernau, Matthew

Contributors dc:contributor

• Darrell Napton

• Corn Belt
• maize
• food security
• energy
• sustainability
• agriculture
• Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Geography

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2013 Matthew Bernau. All Rights Reserved.

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1011

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2011