Abstract :
Energy scarcity is a challenging issue in all sectors especially agriculture as a food production system. Energy use analysis in agriculture is essential to efficient and sustainable as well as economic production. Since one of the main energy-intensive operations in crop production is tillage, the objective of this study is to assess the impact of conventional and conservation tillage systems on rainfed wheat production in Southwest Iran from energy and economic points of view. To reach the goal of this study, 377 farmers were chosen, i.e. 139 and 42 farmers from two conventional and 121 and 75 farmers from two conservation tillage systems. All information related to energy use and economic of rainfed wheat farms were gathered through face to face interviews. Energy indices, i.e. output-input energy ratio and productivity, specific energy and net energy gain are considered to evaluate of energy use in rainfed wheat farms. Benefit-cost ratio was used to analyze economic status. The results indicated that total input energy for rainfed wheat production was 15800-17200 MJ/ha. The three main energy consumers were fertilizer, diesel fuel and seed in the all tillage systems by 90% of the total energy input. The best specific energy, gross income and benefit-cost ratio was gain from CS 1 by 9 MJ/kg, 650.7 $/ha and 2.77, respectively. Although the best energy and economic indices were gain from conservation tillage systems especially CS 1, insufficient conservation farm machineries inhibits the farmers to use them properly. More support to increase these types of farm machines is recommended to encourage farmers to use them more.
