Evaluation of Mechanized Field Operations Energies for Production of Sugar Cane Crop: Kenana Sugar Company as Case Study

Abstract

Mechanization application in agriculture is important for timeliness of field operations and improvement of products quality. This study was conducted in a sugar company to evaluate the mechanization energy requirements for production of sugar cane crop. Mechanization index (MI), mechanization ratio (MR), mechanization productivity (MEP), specific mechanization energy (SME), total mechanization energy and mechanization energy use efficiency (MEU) were estimated. Data for the study was collected from field visits, agricultural engineers working in the company and also from the available information in literatures and other related resources. Results showed that the highest share of mechanized energy consumption belongs to land preparation operation (44%) followed by harvesting operation (30%), while the lowest was for the weeding and fertilization (5%). The highest share of mechanization energy expenses was found to be 72% diesel fuel. The total mechanization energy, overall mechanization index, specific mechanization energy, mechanization energy input ratio, mechanization energy use efficiency and mechanization energy productivity were 17176.3 MJha-1, 97.8%, 0.18 MJkg-1, 0.20, 6.6, 5.6 kgMJ-1. Although the mechanization index of all field operations was more than 90%, but the mechanization energy input ratio was still low, while the mechanization productivity energy was high.