Energy efficiency analysis provides a deeper understanding of non-renewable energy dependent cropping systems. In this study, we examined the crop yield and energy efficiency of facultative rainfed wheat (WW - winter wheat, WS - spring wheat) and mineral nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha-1) in two growing seasons 2019/20 and 2020/21 in Central Europe. WW out performed WS significantly overall (2019/20: +30.3 to +47.9 %; 2020/21: +18.9 to +37.3 %) in terms of energy efficiency indicators. The impact of N fertilization on energy efficiency was minimal, largely due to one dose application of mineral N fertilizer. The highest estimated net-energy output (NEO) was observed at 160.2 kg N ha-1, which may not sustainable for this pedo-climatic region due to potential N emissions risks. Zero N fertilization showed best performance in terms of energy use efficiency (EUE), energy intensity (EI), and energy productivity (EP). The ERG z-score, which combines NEO and EUE into a single bi-dimensional indicator, indicated an optimal N fertilization level of 72.0 kg N ha-1.

Department of Agroecology and Plant Production University of Agriculture in Kraków 31 120 Kraków Poland

Department of Agroecosystems Faculty of Agriculture and Technology University of South Bohemia 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Experimental Farm Groß Enzersdorf Department of Crop Sciences BOKU University Vienna 2301 Groß Enzersdorf Austria

Institute of Agronomy Department of Crop Sciences BOKU University Vienna 3430 Tulln Austria

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