Analyzing the energy balances of double-cropped cereals in an arid region

Abstract

a b s t r a c tEfficient use of energy in agroecosystems will reduce environmental problems, prevent destruction of natural resources and serve to promote sustainable agriculture as an economical production system. The aim of this study was to investigate the energy use efficiency in four double cropping systems including: wheat-silage corn (W-SC), barely-silage corn (B-SC), barely-grain corn (B-GC) and barely-rice (B-R) in the arid regions of Isfahan province, Iran. Data used in this study were collected from 73, 45, 38, 18, 18 wheat, barley, silage corn, grain corn and rice farms, respectively, personal interview using semistructured questionnaire during 2010. The results indicated that the total energy consumed were 140,422, 128,979, 121,360 and 172,962 MJ ha −1 for the W-SC, the B-GC, the B-SC and the B-R cropping systems, respectively. The share of diesel fuel by 43.36% (W-SC), 43.93% (B-GC), 42.82% (B-SC) and 49.40 % (B-R) was the highest input. This was followed by fertilizer (W-SC: 24.70%, B-GC: 25.12%, B-SC: 27.05 and B-R: 16.11) and water (W-SC: 10.54%, B-GC: 11.76%, B-SC: 10.73 and B-R: 13.85), respectively. The energy use efficiency was found as 1.70 for W-SC, 1.65 for B-GC, 1.64 for B-SC and 1.03 for B-R double cropping systems, respectively. According to the research results the W-SC, B-SC, B-GC and B-R double cropping systems were more efficient in terms of energy, respectively.

Water–food–energy nexus index: analysis of water–energy–food nexus of crop’s production system applying the indicators approach

“…Crop production uses energy directly as fuel or electricity to operate machinery and equipment and indirectly as in the energy consumed in producing the fertilizers and chemicals used in the farm [Zahedi et al 2015]. E c is calculated applying Eq.…”

Dynamic Behaviour of the Water-Food-Energy Nexus: Focus on Crop Production and Consumption

“…IEFP is the amount of energy consumed for crops' production in the country itself, including direct and indirect energy use. Direct energy use is fuel and electricity to operate machinery and equipment and indirect energy consumed is in producing fertilizers and chemicals (Zahedi et al, ). Figure shows the model structure for IEFP and it is computed for time t by Equation : where IEF P ( in , t ) is the internal energy footprint at time t , and k h , k m , k d , k e , k f , k p , k s , and k i are the energy equivalents of human labour (MJ h −1 ), machinery (MJ h −1 ), diesel oil (MJ L −1 ), electricity (MJ Kwh −1 ), fertilizer (MJ kg −1 ), pesticides (MJ kg −1 ), seeds (MJ kg −1 ), and irrigated water (MJ m 3−1 ) inputs for crop c production and is summed over the 43 crops in the case study.…”

“…Many studies of decision support systems for water resources management were developed without considering the water–food–energy nexus (Drainage Research Institute (DRI), ; Abuzied, ; El‐Gafy and El‐Ganzori, ; Planning Sector (PS), ; El‐Gafy et al, ; El‐Gafy, ). It also draws from many studies on energy use in agriculture and the energy efficiency of crop production (Yaldiz et al, ; Soliman, ; Gundogmus, ; Canning et al, ; Mobtaker et al, ; Rafiee et al, ; Namdari et al, ; Ghorbani et al , ; Ibrahim and Ibrahim, ; Umar and Ibrahim, ; Shabani et al, ; Sahabi et al, ; Bilalisl et al, ; Peyman et al, ; Shahamat et al, ; Schiau and Rus, ; Zarini et al, ; Zahedi et al, ).…”

Is saffron more energy and economic efficient than wheat in crop rotation systems in northeast Iran?

“…In wheat, nitrogen fertilizer (25.89%) and electricity (18.64%) were the most energy-consuming inputs (Table 4). Zahedi et al (2015) reported most of the input energy for wheat production was related to diesel fuel, nitrogen and water for irrigation by 42.7%, 17.9% and 10.03%, respectively. Safa et al (2010) reported that total energy consumption for irrigated wheat, barley, and maize was estimated to be 51 587, 53 529, and 72 743 MJ ha −1 , respectively and that of wheat and barley in dry land production systems was estimated at 12 543 and 11 935 MJ ha −1 , respectively.…”