Emergy-based analysis of four farming systems: insight into agricultural diversification in rural China

The Chinese government has increasingly turned to agricultural industry policy as a means of promoting rural development, which have not necessarily led to an improvement in rural incomes nor to the achievement of other social and environmental goals. Emergy synthesis methods were applied to four agricultural production systems, i.e., two local traditional production systems as maize plantation and pond fish farming, one scaled Shaoxing duck (Anas Platyrhyncha var. domestica) rearing system, and one newly introduced specialty production system of common mushroom (Agaricus Bisporus) cultivation, in Weishan county of Shandong province of China in the year 2007, to assess and compare their environmental performances. Additionally, aiming at understanding the benefits and driving forces of agricultural diversification, environmental performance results were contrasted with traditional economic indicators. As indicated by EYR, ELR and ESI, it can be clearly shown that the scaled duck rearing and newly introduced common mushroom cultivation alternatives are not in a sustainable pattern, although having better economic performance than maize cropping and pond fish farming. Nevertheless, the development of rural agricultural diversification is also affected by land accessibility, investment ability and even labor availability. Therefore, achieving a profitable and environmental sustainable diversified farming system is not an easy task in Weishan area as well as in whole China. It is unwise to encourage development of agricultural diversification in current manners without too much consideration on environmental degradation.