Sustainability assessment of integrated vs. conventional farming: Life cycle and energy flow perspectives in the subtropical North-Western India

With rising global food demands, developing sustainable production systems that enhance productivity, profitability, and soil health while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental impact is essential. Therefore, a study was conducted during 2021-22 and 2022-23 on an integrated farming system (IFS) model of 1.0 ha with six components (crop, horticulture, agroforestry, dairy, aquaculture and boundary plantation) and two sub-units (FYM and biogas) established at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India to assess the sustainability, productivity, profitability, energy flows and environmental impact for successfully diversifying the conventional rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of Northwestern India. The results showed that the IFS model (46.80 t/ha) produced 3.89 times more system productivity compared to the conventional rice-wheat system (12.03 t/ha), which resulted in higher gross returns (USD 10992.25/year), net returns (2820.36 USD/year), and BC ratio (1.68). Furthermore, 30,700 kg of cow dung was recycled through the FYM unit and 10,415 kg through the biogas unit in the IFS model, enhancing soil health properties (physical, chemical, and biological) compared to initial values and the conventional rice-wheat system. The IFS model utilized 70.62% renewable energy (91909 MJ), with organic waste recycling contributing approximately 35.58% to the total energy input, whereas the conventional rice-wheat system relied more on non-renewable energy (68.92%). The global warming potential of the IFS model (14,191 kg CO 2 eq.) was lower than the conventional rice-wheat system (19,229 kg CO 2 eq.), with on-farm emissions being the major contributor, accounting for 54.62% and 86.43%, respectively. The IFS model showed better environmental impacts and net energy gains, proving more remunerative than the conventional rice-wheat system. Hence, large-scale adoption of the IFS model is a sustainable diversification option to improve productivity and profitability in an environmentally friendly manner. • The IFS model enhances productivity, profitability and employment over the conventional rice-wheat system. • Organic waste recycling in IFS improves overall soil health. • IFS relies on renewable energy, whereas rice-wheat depends on non-renewables. • IFS reduced global warming potential by 26.2% compared to the rice-wheat system.