Abstract
We present a meta-analysis of energy-consumption and environmental-emissions patterns in Iranian cropping systems using data collected from articles published between 2008 and 2018 for 21 different crops. The results show that the crops consuming the most energy per hectare are tomato, sugarcane, cucumber and alfalfa, while sunflower consumed the least. The average total energy input for all crops in Iran during the study period was 48,029 MJ ha−1. Our analysis revealed that potato has the highest potential to reduce energy consumption and that electricity and fertilizer inputs have the most potential for energy savings in cropping systems. Not all studies reviewed addressed the factors that create energy consumption patterns and environmental emissions. Therefore, eight indicators were modeled in this meta-analysis, which include Total Energy Input, Energy Productivity, Energy Use Efficiency, Net Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Technical Efficiency, Pure Technical Efficiency and Scale Efficiency. The effects of region (which was analyzed in terms of climate), year and crop or product type on these eight indicators were modeled using meta-regression and the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test. To create a comprehensive picture and roadmap for future research, the process of the agricultural-systems analysis cycle is discussed. This review and meta-analysis can be used as a guide to provide useful information to researchers working on the energy dynamics of agricultural systems, especially in Iran, and in making their choices of crop types and regions in need of study.
Highlights
In recent years, the number of publications on energy and environmental aspects of agricultural systems has increased in Iran, on energy consumption patterns and environmental emissions [1]
The first question of the present study is: Despite the wide range of indicators and methods used by previous researchers, have all aspects of cropping systems been examined or are there still issues in the systems analysis process that have been neglected? Given the great variety of production systems in the agricultural sector, have the necessary standards been met by researchers in sampling and data collection? In terms of the system analysis process, it is incomplete to study the current state of a system without intervening to improve a system
The journals with the most published articles analyzing energy consumption patterns in Iranian agricultural systems were Energy, Journal of Cleaner Production, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, and Energy Reports, which each contained more than four articles from 2008–2018
Summary
The number of publications on energy and environmental aspects of agricultural systems has increased in Iran, on energy consumption patterns and environmental emissions [1]. The method of conducting studies in this field has evolved in recent years. The first question of the present study is: Despite the wide range of indicators and methods used by previous researchers, have all aspects of cropping systems been examined or are there still issues in the systems analysis process that have been neglected? The question is whether, in the studies, interventions in the energy consumption pattern have been done by researchers and whether the effect of those interventions on improving the energy consumption pattern, economic model and reducing environmental emissions has been studied? The question is whether, in the studies, interventions in the energy consumption pattern have been done by researchers and whether the effect of those interventions on improving the energy consumption pattern, economic model and reducing environmental emissions has been studied? Another important question is whether a hypothesis has been made about the reason for the formation of energy consumption
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