Energy use pattern in production of Sugar Beet in west Azerbaijan province of Iran

Abstract

With regard to the limitation of energy resources, especially non-renewable sources and increasing trend of energy consumption in agriculture, energy management in this sector is important. The purpose of this study was assessing energy productivity, input and output energy, energy efficiency and output-input energy ratio of sugar beet production in west Azerbaijan province of Iran. To achieve these objectives, statistical data about cultivation area, sugar beet yield in 2010 were acquired from the agricultural research center of west Azerbaijan province. Also data about cultivation methods, implements and machinery in use were obtained from sugar beet farmers by questionnaire. According to the results, total energy consumption in sugar beet production was 52268.72 MJ/ha, output energy was 722400 MJ/ha, energy output-input ratio was 13.8, net energy was 670131.28 MJ/ha and energy productivity was 0.82 Kg/MJ. The major energy consumers were chemical fertilizers with 34% of total input energy, irrigation (22%), implements and irrigation equipment manufacturing (12.84%) and spraying (7%), respectively. Approximately 29.48% of total input energy used in sugar beet production was direct energy and the remaining of 70.42% was indirect.