Energy-use efficiency and economic analysis of vegetable cropping sequences under greenhouse condition

Abstract

Under off-seasonality, high-value vegetable cultivation in the greenhouse is more profitable and gaining more acceptances day by day. This study aims to analyze the energy requirement and energy input–output relationship with the economics of vegetable-based cropping sequences viz., tomato nursery–tomato–pepper–onion nursery (CS1), tomato nursery–pepper–soil treatment–cucumber (CS2), tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–cucumber (CS3), tomato nursery–cucumber–soil treatment–pepper (CS4), and tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–pepper (CS5) in greenhouse conditions of Indian sub-Himalayas. The five sequential treatments were statistically analyzed in randomized block design with four replications. Results reveal that cucumber production required highest input energy (1,059.9 MJ/100 m2) than tomato or pepper. The highest input (3,477.4 MJ/100 m2) and output (4,787.5 MJ/100 m2) energy was observed with CS3. Crop protection (28.9–55.7 %), manures and chemical fertilizers (17.5–33.1 %), and plant stacking, training and pruning (16.3–21.9 %) consumed the bulk of the energy for all cropping sequences. The CS3 with the highest tomato equivalent yield produced the highest net energy (1,310.1 MJ/100 m2), energy productivity (0.63 MJ/100 m2), energy intensiveness (0.297 MJ/100 m2), and benefit/cost ratio (1.82). Energy consumption in the form of indirect (70.6–80.2 %) and non-renewable (83.9–85.7 %) energy was higher than direct and renewable energy, respectively. Considering these, CS3 (tomato nursery–tomato–soil treatment–cucumber) cropping sequence will be a more suitable option for greenhouse cultivation.