Determination of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy use for Lemon Production of Mazandaran Province in Iran

Determination of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy use for Lemon Production of Mazandaran Province in Iran

Energy is a fundamental ingredient in the process of economic development, as it provides essential services that maintain economic activity and the quality of human life. Modern agriculture has become very energy-intensive. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of renewable and non-renewable inputs energy used in Lemon production in Mazandaran province, Iran. Also, in this study, the amounts of energy indexes was determined. Data used in this study were obtained from 45 farmers using a face-to-face interview method. The total energy requirement under Lemon farming was 17,112.2 MJ ha-1, whereas 36.3 and 33.62% was consumed due to chemical fertilizers and chemical poisons respectively. Renewable energy was about 12% of total energy input. The energy ratio, productivities, specific and net energy gain were 1.71, 0.905 kg MJ-1, 1.104 MJ kg-1 and 12,251.4 MJ ha-1, respectively. Results indicated that Lemon production is mostly dependent on non-renewable energy sources. So, Lemon production needs to improve the efficiency of energy consumption and to employ renewable energy.

Energy is a fundamental ingredient in the process of economic development, as it provides essential services that maintain economic activity and the quality of human life. Modern agriculture has become very energy-intensive. The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of renewable and non-renewable inputs energy used in Lemon production in Mazandaran province, Iran. Also, in this study, the amounts of energy indexes was determined. Data used in this study were obtained from 45 farmers using a face-to-face interview method. The total energy requirement under Lemon farming was 17,112.2 MJ ha-1, whereas 36.3 and 33.62% was consumed due to chemical fertilizers and chemical poisons respectively. Renewable energy was about 12% of total energy input. The energy ratio, productivities, specific and net energy gain were 1.71, 0.905 kg MJ-1, 1.104 MJ kg-1 and 12,251.4 MJ ha-1, respectively. Results indicated that Lemon production is mostly dependent on non-renewable energy sources. So, Lemon production needs to improve the efficiency of energy consumption and to employ renewable energy.