Energy Analysis and Greenhouse Gas Emission from Strawberry Production under Two Irrigation Systems

Abstract

The aims of this study were to estimate the energy indices, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and compare the energy balance of open field strawberry production under furrow and drip irrigation systems in Kurdistan province, west of Iran. Data used in this study were obtained from 24 strawberry growers using a face to face questionnaire method in 2014. In order to convert inputs and output into energy equivalents, energy equivalent coefficients were applied. The results indicate that total energy consumption in strawberry production was 16,206.83 and 16,525.69 MJ.ha-1, whereas the total energy output was 38,950.00 and 52,385.70 MJ.ha-1 in furrow and drip irrigation systems, respectively. Energy use efficiency and net energy in the drip irrigation system were higher than the furrow irrigation system. Nitrogen fertilizer was the major energy consumer in both of the irrigation systems. From an environmental viewpoint, the total GHG emissions were 764.28 and 1,284.19 kg CO2 equivalent ha-1 in the furrow and drip systems, respectively. In the furrow system, the nitrogen fertilizer and diesel fuel had the highest share in GHG emissions, with 51.76 and 20.72 percent of the total, respectively, but in the drip system, machinery had the highest share in GHG emissions, with 53.11 percent of the total.