Yield improvement and greenhouse effect of different intercropping systems based on life cycle assessment

Global warming has become the most pressing problem affecting the ecological environment, and the greenhouse gases (N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂) produced due to agricultural practices are one of the factors that cannot be neglected. Establishing different planting models and production management measures, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the farmland ecosystems, and achieving high yields and efficiency in an environment friendly manner are important safety strategies for sustainable agricultural development. In this study, the effects of intercropping systems on greenhouse gas emission and yields were explored in the farm ecosystems for the wheat/faba bean and corn/potato intercropping systems. Two years of research using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method has produced data that compare the differences in crop yield, global warming potential, and energy consumption in the intercropping and monocropping systems. The wheat/faba bean intercropping and wheat monocropping system as well as the corn/potato intercropping and maize monocropping systems were used as research objectives and a production unit of 1 000 kg was evaluated as the functional unit. The agricultural capital system, life cycle resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emission inventory for agricultural resources systems and farming systems under different planting models were established; and monocropping and intercropping environmental impact assessments was conducted. The results showed that compared to the yield of monocropped wheat, the yield of intercropped wheat increased by 18.04% and 39.94%, respectively, in 2014 and 2015. Besides, the global warming potential of intercropped wheat decreased by 15.28% and 28.53%, while the energy consumption decreased by 15.29% and 28.53%, respectively, in 2014 and 2015. Furthermore, compared with monocropped maize, the yield of intercropped maize increased by 2.65% and 23.16%, whereas the global warming potential of intercropped maize decreased by 2.61% and 19.05%, respectively, in 2014 and 2015. In addition, energy consumption decreased by 2.61% and 18.83%, respectively, in 2014 and 2015. Compared with monocropping, reasonable intercropping significantly increased the crop yield while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. This aided in protecting the environment while reducing energy consumption, and achieving a high yield and efficiency of crops at a lower environmental cost.