Evaluating Energy Dynamics: A Comparative Analysis of Pulses Production Systems in Iran

Abstract

The examination of energy dynamics within agroecosystems emerges as a promising methodology for evaluating environmental challenges and their intricate connections to sustainability. This study seeks to delineate a comprehensive comparative analysis among bean, lentil, irrigated chickpea, and dryland chickpea farms. The primary focus is on assessing key parameters such as energy efficiency, energy productivity, benefit-to-cost ratio, and the extent of renewable energy utilization within these agricultural systems. Data were collected from 18 bean, 27 lentil, 24 irrigated chickpea and 46 dryland chickpea growers, using a face-to-face questionnaire. The results revealed that the total energy requirement were for bean 23666.8 MJ ha^-1, for lentil 14114.79 MJ ha^-1, for irrigated chickpea 15756.21 MJ ha^-1, and for dryland chickpea 2630.12 MJ ha^-1. The study reveals that the aggregate energy inputs, encompassing direct, indirect, renewable, and non-renewable sources, were distributed as follows among the examined crops: 67% for bean, 33% for lentil, 30% for irrigated chickpea, and 70% for dryland chickpea farms. In terms of energy use efficiency, the findings indicate values of 1.81 for bean, 1.79 for lentil, 1.21 for irrigated chickpea, and notably higher at 2.78 for dryland chickpea. In the context of benefit-to-cost ratios, the study demonstrates values of 6.18, 6.15, 3.71, and 8.10 for bean, lentil, irrigated chickpea, and dryland chickpea farms, respectively. Notably, the results indicate that dryland chickpea emerges as the most energy-efficient option. Among the irrigated crops under examination, bean not only exhibits superior energy efficiency but also stands out as the most economically beneficial choice based on the study's findings.