1. The Functional Relationship Between Energy Inputs and Yield Value of Soybean Production in Iran.
- Author
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Mousavi-Avval, SeyedHashem, Rafiee, Shahin, Jafari, Ali, and Mohammadi, Ali
- Subjects
SOYBEAN ,ECONOMETRIC models ,SENSITIVITY analysis ,CROP yields ,AGRICULTURAL productivity ,ENERGY consumption - Abstract
This study examines energy use patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for soybean production in the Golestan province of Iran. Data used in this study were obtained from randomly selected soybean farms using a face-to-face survey. The results revealed that total energy of 35372.23 MJ ha-1 was required for soybean production and electricity, chemical fertilizers, and diesel fuel were the main energy consuming inputs. Energy use efficiency, energy productivity, and specific energy were 2.29, 0.09 kg MJ-1, and 10.94 MJ kg-1, respectively. Moreover, in specifying a functional relationship the Cobb-Douglas production function was selected as the best function. The results showed that fertilizer, water for irrigation, diesel fuel, machinery, human labor, and electricity energies significantly contributed to yield; while, the use of chemicals and seed energies was inconsistent with output. Also, the marginal physical productivity (MPP) technique was applied to analyze the effect of energy use on soybean production. It was found that, soybean production had more sensitivity on machinery, human labor, and water for irrigation energies; so that, an additional use of 1 MJ from each of the machinery, human labor, and water for irrigation energies would lead to increase in output by 0.57, 0.44, and 0.23 kg, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
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