Evaluating and Comparing the Sustainability of Autumn and Spring Potato Agroecosystems Using Energy Analysis (Case Study: Golestan Province)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

Background and Objective: Study was conducted to evaluate the sustainability of the two autumn and spring potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming ecosystems.
 
Methods and Materials: The study was conducted by questionnaire in Golestan Province during the period of 2017-2018. 120 autumn farms and 60 spring farms were selected by stratified random sampling method. After determining inputs and output and their energy equivalent, the energy indices were determined.
 
Results: Fossil fuels and fertilizers were the largest energy inputs of the total in autumn and spring potato farming ecosystems with share of 30.26% and 29.04%, respectively. In autumn and spring potato farming ecosystems, energy use efficiency indices were 1.85 and 1.30; energy productivity indices were 0.51 and 0.36 kg MJ-1; specific energy indices were 1.95 and 2.76 MJ kg-1; net energy indices were 52135.16 and 16125.42 MJ ha-1; mechanization indices were 0.96 and 0.94; total energy inputs were 61384.83 and 53234.59 MJ ha-1 and total energy outputs were 113519.99 and 69360.01 MJ ha-1, respectively.
 
Conclusion: The efficiency and the sustainability of the autumn farming ecosystem were higher than the spring in terms of potato production in Golestan Province. In autumn and spring farming ecosystems, the share of indirect, nonrenewable and commercial energy were greater than that of direct, renewable and noncommercial energy. It is useful to implement recommended guidelines for optimal management of inputs such as conservation tillage, modernization of machinery and consumption of manure, it reduces the share of nonrenewable and commercial energy and increases environmental health and energy efficiency.
 
 

Keywords


AghaAlikhani M, Kazemi Poshtmasari H and Habibzadeh F. 2013. Energy use pattern in rice production: A case study from Mazandaran province, Iran. Energy Conversion and Management, 69: 157–162.
Alimagham SM, Soltani A, Zeinali E and Kazemi H. 2017. Energy flow analysis and estimation of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in different scenarios of soybean production (Case study: Gorgan region, Iran). Journal of Cleaner Production, 149: 621-628.
Asgharipour MR, Mondani F and Riahinia S. 2012. Energy use efficiency and economic analysis of sugar beet production system in Iran: A case study in Khorasan Razavi province. Energy, 44: 1078-1084.
Asgharipour MR, Mousavinik SM and Fartout Enayat F. 2016. Evaluation of energy input and greenhouse gases emissions from alfalfa production in the Sistan region, Iran. Energy Reports, 2: 135-140.
Azarpour E, Moraditochaee M and Bozorgi HR. 2013. Estimate energy, energy balance and economic indices of watered farming Potato Production in North of Iran. International Journal of Biosciences, 3(11): 48-56.
Barber AA. 2003. Case study of total energy and carbon indicators for New Zealand arable and outdoor vegetable production. Agricultural Engineering Consultant Agril INK. New Zealand Ltd.
Cochran J. 2003. Patterns of sustainable agriculture adoption/non-adoption in Panama a thesis submitted to McGill University. McGill University, Montreal, Canad: 1-114.
Dastan S, Noormohamadi G, Madani H and Soltani A. 2015. Analysis of Energy Indices in Rice Production Systems in the Neka Region. Environmental Sciences, 13(1): 53-66. (In Persian).
Elsoragaby S, Yahya A, Razif Mahadi M, Nawi NM and Mairghany M. 2019. Analysis of energy use and Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG) of Transplanting and Broadcast Seeding Wetland Rice Cultivation. Energy, 189.
Erdal G, Esengun K, Erdal H and Gunduz O. 2007. Energy use and economical analysis of sugar beet production in Tokat province of Turkey. Energy, 32: 35-41.
Esengun K, Erdal G, Gunduz O and Erdal H. 2007. An economic analysis and energy use in stake-tomato production in Tokat province of Turkey. Renewable Energy, 32: 1873–1881.
Ghorbani R, Mondani F, Amirmoradi S, Feizi H, Khorramdel S, Teimourin M, Sanjani S, Anvarkhah S and Aghel H. 2011. A case study of energy use and economical analysis of irrigated and dry land wheat production systems. Applied Energy, 88(1): 283–288.
Iqbal MDT. 2008. Energy input and output for production of Boro rice in Bangladesh. Electronic Journal of Environmental, Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 7(3): 2717–2722.
Jihad-e-Agricultural Organization of Golestan Province. 2018. Deputy for Plant Production Improvement. Management of agricultural affairs. Vegetable and summer office.
Kazemi H, Shahbyki M and Baghbani S. 2015. Energy analysis for faba bean production: A case study in Golestan province, Iran. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 3: 15-20.
Kazemi H, Shokrgozar M, Kamkar B and Soltani A. 2018. Analysis of cotton production by energy indicators in two different climatic regions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 190: 729-736.
Kazemi H and Zare S. 2014. Investigation and comparison of energy flow in wheat fields of Gorgan and Marvdasht townships. Cereal Research, 9(3): 211-227. (In Persian).
Mohammidi A, Tabatabaeefar A, Shahin H, Rafiee S and Keyhani A. 2008. Energy use and economical analysis of potato production in Iran a case study: Ardabil province. Energy Conversion and Management, 49: 3566-3570.
Moore SR. 2010. Energy efficiency in small-scale biointensive organic onion production in Pennsylvania, USA. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 25(3): 181–188.
Mousavi-Avval SH, Rafiee S, Jafari A and Mohammadi A. 2011. Optimization of energy consumption for soybean production using data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. Applied Energy, 88(11): 3765–3772.
Ozkan B, Fert C and Karadeniz CF. 2007. Energy and cost analysis for greenhouse and open-field grape production. Energy, 32: 1500–1504.
Pahlavan R, Omid M and Akram A. 2012. The relationship between energy inputs and crop yield in greenhouse basil production. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, 14: 1243-1253.
Pazouki Toroudi M, Ajam Nouruzi H, Ghanbari Malidarreh A, Dadashi MR and Dastan S. 2016. Evaluation of Energy Balance and CO2 Emissions of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Production. Journal of Agroecology, 9(4): 1168-1193. (In Persian).
Pimentel D, Hepperly P, Hanson J, Douds D and Seidel R. 2005. Environmental, energetic, and economic comparisons of organic and conventional farming systems. Bioscience, 55(7): 573-582.
Rajabi Hamedani S, Shabani Z and Rafiee S. 2011. Energy inputs and crop yield relationship in potato production in Hamadan province of Iran. Energy, 36: 2367-2371.
Rathke GW and Diepenbrock W. 2006. Energy balance of winter oilseed rape cropping as related to nitrogen supply and preceding crop. European Journal of Agronomy, 24: 35-44.
Rezaei P, Naderi Mahdei K, Karimi S and Shanazi K. 2019. Environmental Sustainability Assessment of Farming System Using Ecological Footprint Analysis (Case Study: Potato and Cucumber Cultivation in Sofalgaran district of Bahar County). Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 29(2): 53-66. (In Persian).   
Samavatean N, Rafiee S, Mobil H and Mohammadi A. 2010. An analysis of energy use and relation between energy inputs and yield, costs and income of garlic production in Iran. Renewable Energy, 36: 1808–1813.
Samavatean N, Rafiee S and Mobli H. 2011. An analysis of energy use and estimation of a Mechanization index of garlic production in Iran. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 3: 198–205.
Shah-Moridi R, Kazemi H and Kamkar B. 2017. Evaluation of Sustainable Agricultural Development in Golestan Province. Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 27(1): 197-215. (In Persian).
Soltani A, Maleki MHM and Zeinali E. 2014. Optimal crop management can reduce energy use and greenhouse gases emissions in rainfed canola production. International Journal of Plant Production, 8(4): 587–604.
Soltani A, Rajabi MH, Zeinali E and Soltani E. 2013. Energy inputs and greenhouse gases emissions in wheat production in Gorgan, Iran. Energy, 50: 54-61.
Wang N, Reidsma P, Pronk AA, de WitAJW and van Ittersum MK. 2018. Can potato add to China,s food self-sufficiency? The scope for increasing potato production in China. European Journal of Agronomy, 101: 20-29.
Yasari E, Dastan S and Yadi R. 2018. Evaluation of CO2 Emission Caused By Energy Consumption of Local Rice Cultivars In Mazandaran Province. Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production, 28(4): 191-206.
Yilmaz I, Akcaoz H and Ozkan B. 2005. An analysis of energy use and input costs for cotton production in Turkey. Renewable Energy, 30: 145-155.
Yousefi M and Mohammadi A. 2011. Economic analysis and energy use efficiency in Alfalfa production systems in Iran. Scientific Research and Essays, 6(11): 2332–2336.
Zahedi M and Eshghizadeh HR. 2014. Energy use efficiency and economic analysis in cotton production system in an arid region: a case study for Isfahan province, Iran. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 4(1): 43-52.
Zangeneh M, Omid M and Akram A. 2010. A comparative study on energy use and cost analysis of potato production under different farming technologies in Hamadan province of Iran. Energy, 35: 2927-2933.