Economics, energy budgeting and environmental impact assessment of coconut-based cropping system in the west coast of India

A sustainable agricultural production system should be economically viable, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly. This study aimed to assess the economic viability, energy efficiency, and environmental impact of seven different coconut-based cropping systems in Goa, India. The systems included coconut (Cocos nucifera L) monocrop and various intercropping combinations such as drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and papaya (Carica papaya), heliconia (Heliconia psittacorum) or banana (Musa sp.,) and lemon (Citrus limon), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), and crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis). Results indicated that the coconut + pineapple + passion fruit system and coconut + heliconia system showed promising in terms of both economic returns and energy output. The coconut + papaya + drumstick system, however, showed the highest global warming potential (GWP) due to considerable input requirements during the crop cycle. The coconut + pineapple + passion fruit system exhibited the highest economic returns with an average additional coconut equivalent yield of 8605 nuts per hectare, a high benefit-to-cost ratio of 1.99, with an average net return of USD 1558.5 per hectare. Energy efficiency among the systems was compared based on computed energy values for inputs and outputs, highest efficiency at 45.3 was recorded in the coconut + heliconia system. Using the ReCiPe 2016 (H) Midpoint method, life cycle inventories were calculated, and the coconut monocrop system showed the lowest GWP due to its lower input consumption. The agroforestry combinations of coconut + crossandra and coconut + soursop showed nearly equivalent GWP as that of coconut monocrop despite their higher input requirement over coconut monocrop. On-farm emissions were found to contribute significantly to the GWP, ranging from 73 % in coconut + crossandra to 40 % in coconut + heliconia. Nitrogenous fertilizers and fuel-intensive tillage operations were identified as major contributors to both higher energy consumption and GWP in all the cropping systems. In conclusion, the coconut+soursop system has proven to be optimally productive, profitable, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly. In addition, this system offers the opportunity to incorporate various intercrops such as pepper and pineapple, to improve multiple ecosystem services in the West Coast region of India. The findings emphasize that selecting low-input, shade-adapted crops can optimize resource use, reduce emissions, and enhance sustainability.