Given the problem of climate change and the requirements laid down by the European Union in the field of gradual decarbonization of production, it is necessary to implement solutions of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into agricultural practice. This research paper aimed to evaluate the carbon footprint and life-cycle costs of grain maize production in various tillage systems. The material for the analyses was data from 2015–2017 collected on 15 farms located in the Wielkopolska region (Poland) and growing maize for grain in three tillage systems: conventional, reduced, and no-tillage. The life-cycle assessment and life-cycle costing methodologies were applied to assess the GHG emissions and costs associated with the grain maize production in the stages from “cradle-to-farm gate”, i.e., from obtaining raw materials and producing means for agricultural production, through the processes of maize cultivation to grain harvesting. The calculated values of the carbon footprint indicator for maize production in conventional, reduced, and no-tillage systems were 2347.4, 2353.4, and 1868.7 CO₂ eq. ha⁻¹, respectively. The largest source of GHG emissions was the use of nitrogen fertilizers. Non-inversion tillage with cover crops and leaving a large amount of crop residues in the field increased the sequestration of organic carbon and contributed to a significant reduction of the carbon footprint in maize production. The conventional tillage system demonstrated the highest overall life-cycle costs per hectare.

中文翻译：

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传统和非反向耕作系统中玉米的碳足迹和生命周期成本

考虑到气候变化问题以及欧盟在生产逐步脱碳领域中提出的要求，有必要在农业实践中实施减少温室气体（GHG）排放的解决方案。本研究旨在评估各种耕作系统中谷物玉米生产的碳足迹和生命周期成本。分析所用的材料是2015年至2017年在Wielkopolska地区（波兰）的15个农场收集的数据，并通过三种耕作系统（常规，减耕和免耕）种植玉米来种植谷物。生命周期评估和生命周期成本核算方法被用于评估从“摇篮到农场的大门”阶段，即与谷物玉米生产相关的温室气体排放和成本。从获取原材料和农业生产手段，到玉米种植到谷物收割的过程。传统，减量和免耕系统下玉米生产的碳足迹指标的计算值分别为2347.4、2353.4和1868.7 CO₂当量 ha ^-1。温室气体排放的最大来源是氮肥的使用。进行有盖作物的非反转耕作并在田间留下大量农作物残留物，增加了有机碳的固存，并大大减少了玉米生产中的碳足迹。传统耕作系统显示出每公顷最高的总生命周期成本。