Energy and exergy efficiencies assessment for two Quinoa cultivars productions

Abstract

In this study, the energy, exergy and yield is calculated for two cultivars of quinoa (Sajama and Titicaca) production. The result shows that the energy consumption, exergy consumption, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency for producing quinoa are calculated to be 10,932.34 MJ/ton, 14,6940 MJ/ton, 141.32% and 15.9% in Sajama cultivar and 6,442.42 MJ/ton, 98,243.6 MJ/ton, 215.3% and 20.6% in Titicaca cultivar, respectively. The grain yield of Titicaca cultivar is higher, although its growth duration is less as compared to Sajama cultivar. The combined application of bio-fertilizer with chemical fertilizers give the highest growth duration, grain yield, 1000-seed weight, biological yield and harvest index, when compared with the sole application of fertilizer and no fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer consumes the highest amount of total energy inputs followed by irrigation water and diesel fuel for quinoa production. About 97.5% of total input exergy consumed in quinoa production is water irrigation. Thus, it is clear that decrease in the use of irrigation water decreases the environmental impact and increases sustainability and vice versa. In pursuit of sustainable agriculture goals, Titicaca cultivar could be introduced as advanced cultivar in saline and drought stressed fields as a crop with high potential yield and nutritional value.