Comparing the Ecological Health and Sustainability of Wheat and Pistachio Production Systems in the Goharkuh Taftan Agro-industry Complex Using a Thermodynamic Approach and Sensitivity Analysis of the Results.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 ​Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

10.22034/saps.2024.60678.3186

Abstract

Background & Objective: In this study, we investigated how increasing energy inputs affect the stability of wheat and pistachio production systems, revealing that enhanced production may come at the cost of reduced stability in these systems.
 Materials & Methods: Using approaches that can identify the extent of deviation of systems from stability will be fruitful for making future decisions. In this study, we have utilised the thermodynamic approach proposed by Steinborn and Svirezhev to determine the entropy overproduction and deviation from the stable state of the wheat and pistachio production system in the Goharkuh Taftan agro-industry complex.
 
Results: The examined components include excess entropy production, limit energy load, maximal crop production for sustainable agriculture, and deviation from sustainable agriculture of the system. The results indicate that both production systems have generated excess entropy. The entropy overproduction by the wheat product was approximately 67% less than that of pistachios, indicating a higher stability of the wheat product than pistachios.
 
Conclusion: The wheat production system has been more energy-efficient than the pistachio production system due to higher productivity. The difference in the intensity of energy flows and the variation in the structure of the two production systems complex have been the reasons for the disparity in the quantities of the components under investigation. However, none of these systems are sustainable in the long run, and adopting management approaches that reduce the intensity of energy inflows into these systems and require more use of renewable energies is essential to reach a stable state.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Volume 35, Issue 4
2026
Pages 275-290

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