An investigation on energy consumption and sensitivity analysis of soybean production farms

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.09.042

Energy

Volume 36, Issue 11, November 2011, Pages 6340-6344

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2011.09.042 Get rights and content

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the energy consumption and evaluation of inputs sensitivity for soybean production in Kordkuy county of Iran. The data used in this study were obtained from 32 farmers using a face-to-face questionnaire base of random sampling method. The sensitivity of energy inputs was estimated using the marginal physical productivity (MPP) method and partial regression coefficients on soybean yield. The results indicated that the total input and output energy use was to be 18,026.50 and 71,228.86 MJ ha⁻¹ respectively. With 66.67%, the diesel fuel was the highest within the energy equivalents and followed by chemical fertilizers and water for irrigation with 14.32% and 6.18% respectively. The input–output ratio was found as 4.62 (used efficiency). The share of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable was 74%, 26%, 14% and 86% respectively. The econometric model estimation emphasized that the seed was significantly positive on yield. The sensitivity analysis indicated the MPP value of 2.42 for seed, indicates that with an additional use of 1 MJ of seed energy would lead to an increase in yield by 2.42. The impact of direct, indirect and non-renewable energies on yield was significant.

Highlights

► We determine the energy output–input ratio for the soybean production. ► The results showed that average yield in soybean was 2285.6 kg/ha and soybean production consumed a total of 18,026.5 MJ/ha input energy. ► Cobb–Douglas frontier production function is used to develop econometric models for soybean production. ► According to parametric estimation results, seed energy was the most significant input that influences on yield.

Introduction

The soybean is a species of legume native to East Asia. The plant is classed as an oilseed rather than a pulse. Fat-free (defatted) soybean meal is a primary, low-cost, source of protein for animal feeds and most prepackaged meals [1]. Traditional non fermented food uses of soybeans include soy milk, and from the latter tofu and tofu skin. Fermented foods include soy sauce, fermented bean paste, natto, and tempeh, among others. The oil is used in many industrial applications. The main producers of soy are the United States (32%), Brazil (28%), Argentina (21%), China (7%) and India (4%) [2]. The area harvested of soybean productions in 2009 was 84,000 ha and the production quantity was 197,000 tons and the average yield was 2.45 tons per hectare [3]. Kordkuy county is one of the biggest producer of soybean in Golestan province. The cultivated area of this crop in Golestan province is almost 60,000 ha with production of 147,000 tons in 2009 [4]. Energy is used in almost all facets of living and in all countries, and makes possible the existence of ecosystems, human civilizations and life itself. Different regions and societies adapt to their environments and determine their own energy resources and energy uses. The standards of life achieved in countries are often a function of energy related factors. On the other hand, energy can exist in many forms, and can be converted from one form to another with energy conversion technologies. We use energy carriers, produced from energy sources, in all aspects of living [5]. In the developing countries, energy consumption has risen rapidly as a result of economic growth [6] and with the introduction of high-yielding varieties and mechanized crop production practices. The relation between agriculture and energy is very close. Agriculture is an energy consumer and energy supplier [7]. Numerous researches have been conducted on energy analysis to determine the energy efficiency, such as potatoes [8], [9] greenhouse cucumber [10], [11], barely [12] and sugarcane in Iran [13], wheat and cotton [14], [15] in Turkey, rice and soybeans [16], [17] in India and sun flower seeds [18] in Greece. However, few studies have been published on the energy analysis of soybean production in Iran. Therefore, this study was undertaken with the following objectives:

•
To estimate energy consumption in soybean production;
•
To determine the energy output–input ratio and other energy indices;
•
To analyze the relationship between energy inputs and yield, by developing mathematical models based on soybean farms in Kordkuy county.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

The study was done in Kordkuy county, the most area of soybean production in Golestan province which is located in the North of Iran at the longitude of 54°1′ and latitude of 36°8′. Golestan province has an area of 2,036,700 ha; and the cultivation area of soybean, with a share of 71.46%, is 60,026 ha [4]. The data used in the study were collected from 32 soybean farms using a face to face questionnaire in January and February 2011. The collected data belonged to the production period of

Analysis of input–output energy consumption in soybean production

Table 2 represents the quantity of inputs and output used in soybean production and their energy equivalents. The results revealed that the quantity of labor and machinery power required in the soybean production were 244.78 h ha⁻¹ and 16.30 h ha⁻¹, respectively. The majority of machinery power was used in soil preparation. Additionally, according to the results, 200.64 L diesel fuel, 32.47 kg nitrogen, 32.10 kg phosphate, 3.10 kg potassium, 1.43 kg chemicals, 1092.91 m³ water, 111.28 kWh

Conclusion

In this study, energy use pattern in soybean production in Kordkuy county of Iran were investigated. The total energy consumption in soybean production was 18,026.50 MJ ha⁻¹. The energy input of diesel fuel had the biggest share within the total energy inputs followed by chemical fertilizers and machinery, respectively. On average, 74% of total energy input used in soybean production was direct, while the contribution of indirect energy was 26%. Also the shares of renewable and non-renewable

Acknowledgment

The support provided by the Research Department of University of Tehran, Iran, is duly acknowledged.

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Published by Elsevier Ltd.

An investigation on energy consumption and sensitivity analysis of soybean production farms

Abstract

Highlights

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Analysis of input–output energy consumption in soybean production

Conclusion

Acknowledgment

Renew Sust Energy Rev

Energy Policy

Renew Energy

Energy Convers Manage

Expert Syst Appl

Appl Energy

Agr Ecosyst Environ

Biomass Bioenergy

Biosystem Eng

Energy

Energy

Energy

Renew Energy

Energy Convers Manage