Energy Balance Analysis for Potato Production in Hamadan Province of Iran

In this study energy use and economic of potato production in Hamedan province of Iran was analyzed. The data used in this study were based on annual data for the period 2007-2008 and were obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture of Iran. The inputs and outputs energy were calculated by multiplying the amounts of inputs and outputs by their energy equivalent gathered from different sources. Total energy input, Energy use efficiency, Energy productivity and Net energy were 81961.465 MJ ha⁻¹, 1.45, 0.402, 36800.051 MJ respectively. The results indicated that about 34.21% of this input energy was generated by chemical fertilizers, 19.75% from diesel fuel. About 36.05% of the total energy inputs used in potato was direct (human labor, diesel, seeds) and 63.95% was indirect (fertilizers, chemical, machinery). Sensitivity analysis showed that with decreasing each of N-fertilizer and Diesel use as 1% would lead to maximum increase in Energy efficiency by 0.268 and 0.198% respectively. Also sensitivity analysis of yield showed that with 1% addition of yield, the Energy use efficiency increased by 1%. In the last part of study, economic analysis of potato production was done. Results revealed that total cost of potato production on the basis of one hectare of field was 2956.502$. Benefit-cost ratio was calculated as1.4$.