Modeling and optimization of energy consumption for grape fruit productionin Iran

Abstract

Grape fruit production has increasing rate in recent years. In this study a non-parametric method of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has used to estimate the energy efficiency of grape fruit production orchards in Sari region of Iran. Additionally, the impacts of energy inputs on grape fruit yield were determined. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire method from 71 orchardists in winter 2014. The results showed that the total energy consumption was 49.8 GJ ha^–1 and chemical fertilizers by 28% of this quantity had highest share on total input energy. The results of CCR and BCC models of DEA showed that from total of 71 orchardists, only 21 orchards were technical efficient by efficiency score of 1 and 43 orchards were pure technical efficient. The average of technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency scores calculated as 0.94 and 0.86, respectively. The results of Cobb-Douglas production function showed that chemical fertilizer had the highest impact on yield level among all inputs. Additionally, the impact of indirect and direct energy in grape fruit production was significant at a 1% probability level with 0.84 and 0.89 regression coefficients, respectively.