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Abstract: Efficient use of energy in agriculture is one of the conditions for sustainable production. In the present study energy use pattern for rose production in Iran was investigated and a non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique was applied to analyze the technical and scale efficiencies of farmers with respect to energy use for crop production. For this purpose, the data were collected by random method from 29 rose production field in the region by using a questionnaire. The results indicated that total input energy, total output energy and energy ratio for rose production were 67.9GJha−1, 11.8GJha−1 and 0.17, respectively. The study has helped to segregate efficient farmers from inefficient ones, identify wasteful uses of energy from different sources by inefficient farmers and to suggest reasonable savings in energy uses from different sources. DEA optimizes the performance measure of each rose production farm. Specifically, the DEA was used to compare the performance of each farm in region of increasing, constant or decreasing return to scale in multiple-inputs situations. The results of DEA application revealed that of the average pure technical, technical and scale efficiencies of farmers were 0.83, 0.68 and 0.79, respectively. By optimization of energy consumption in rose production energy use efficiency was increased to 0.31. Also the results revealed that by adopting the recommendations based on the present study, on an average, about 43.59% of the total input energy could be saved without reducing the rose yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main objectives of this study were to analyze the technical and scale efficiencies of farmers and to identify the wasteful uses of energy in different farm sizes of barberry production in Iran. For these purposes the data envelopment analysis approach was applied to the data of energy use for barberry production in individual farms. The results indicated that total energy input and yield value of small farms were higher than those of large farms. Also, energy resources are used more efficiently in small farms; technical efficiency of farmers in small and large farms was calculated as 0.66 and 0.50, respectively; also, scale efficiency was 0.82 and 0.62 for the respective farms. Total energy input in small and large farms could be reduced by 13.2% and 15.2%, respectively; accordingly, total energy requirement in target conditions was calculated as 20,702.4 and 13,761.2 MJ ha −1 . The highest potential improvement was derived from diesel fuel, followed by electricity and biocides. Improving energy use efficiency of water pumping systems, improving timing, amount and reliability of water application, employing the conservation tillage methods and applying integrated pest management technique are suggested for improving energy use efficiency and reducing the environmental footprints of barberry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examines energy use patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for canola production in Golestan province of Iran. Data used in this study were obtained from 130 randomly selected canola farms using a face to face survey. The results revealed that total energy of 17,786.36 MJ ha−1 was required for canola production and fertilizer, diesel fuel and electricity were the main energy consuming inputs. Energy use efficiency and energy productivity were 3.02 and 0.12 kg MJ−1, respectively. Moreover, in specifying a functional relationship the Cobb–Douglas production function was applied and the results showed that machinery, fertilizer, diesel fuel and water for irrigation energies significantly contributed to yield. Also, the marginal physical productivity (MPP) technique was applied to analyze the sensitivity of energy inputs. It was found that, canola production had more sensitivity on machinery, fertilizer and water for irrigation energies; so that an additional use of 1 MJ from each of the machinery, total fertilizer and water for irrigation would lead to an increase in production by 0.93, 0.61 and 0.24 kg, respectively. However, electricity and seed energies were contributed negatively to yield, which may result in inverse effect on yield and impose risks to the environment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study energy use pattern for canola production in Golestan province of Iran was studied and the degrees of technical and scale efficiency of producers were analyzed using a non-parametric data envelopment analysis technique. The study also helped to identify the wasteful uses of energy by inefficient farmers and to suggest reasonable savings in energy uses from different inputs. Further, the effect of optimization of energy on energy ratio and energy productivity was investigated. Data used in this study were obtained from 130 randomly selected canola farms from Golestan, the most important center of canola production in Iran. The inputs were human labor, diesel, machinery, fertilizers, chemicals, water for irrigation, seeds and electrical energies; while the yield value of canola was considered as output. The results revealed that, the total energy of 17,786MJha−1 was consumed for canola production; about 15% of farmers were found to be technically efficient and the mean efficiency of farmers was found to be 0.74 and 0.88 under constant and variable returns to scale assumptions, respectively. The results also suggested that, on average, a potential 9.5% (1696MJha−1) reduction in total energy input could be achieved provided that all farmers operated efficiently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the energy balance between the energy inputs and yield for apple production in Tehran, Iran. For this purpose the data were collected from 56 apple orchards. The following results were obtained from this study: The total energy input of 42819.25MJha−1 was required for apple production. The share of diesel fuel by 21.88% of the total energy inputs was the highest energy input. This was followed by farmyard manure (17.66%) and electricity (13.09%), respectively. The energy use efficiency, energy productivity, Specific energy, and net energy were found as 1.16, 0.49kgMJ−1, 2.06MJkg−1 and 7038.18MJha−1, respectively. According to the research results, the contribution of direct energy was higher than that of indirect energy; also the share of non-renewable energy was more than that of renewable energy. The results of econometric model estimation revealed that the impact of farmyard manure, water for irrigation, electricity, chemical fertilizer and human labour energy inputs were significantly positive on yield. The results of sensitivity analysis of the energy inputs showed that the MPP value of water for irrigation was the highest, followed by human labour and chemicals energy inputs, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]