Abstract
This study aims to determine the most suitable areas for switchgrass cultivation, one of the most tolerable and preferable modern energy crops, in Eskisehir province, Turkey, and present a cost analysis model including a variety of items such as total cost, extra costs, profit, and dry product sales price. The weighted overlay analysis method was used for the first stage, based on a 5-scale suitability range and topographic, climatic, soil, and land-use characteristics. After the restricted areas were extracted from the study area boundaries, the results showed that 81,294 ha of land fell into medium suitability, 190,556 ha high suitability, and 63 ha very high suitability categories. The cost analysis model was made over a 10-ha sample field, resulting in an estimated dry crop sales price of 74 € (86 USD) per ton. This calculation was based on an optimistic assumption of 20 tons/ha of dry crop production in the study area. The model was also applied to multiplies of 10 ha to determine the most competitive price. It was concluded that 21 € (24 USD) crop sales price could be obtained from a 50 ha land in case of a 23% profitability and 1000 tons of crop production.
Published Version
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