Determination of Energy Consumption treads for Orchard Production (Case study Boein Zahra, Qazvin Province)

Subject Areas :

Received: 2012-06-01 Accepted : 2012-10-15 Published : 2012-12-21

Keywords: energy consumption, Orchard crops, Area of orchard, Output energy,

Abstract :

Studying the trends of energy consumption on production of four orchard crops of Pistachio, Nectarine, Peach and Apple in south-west of Qazvine province (Bouinzahra) in 2012-2013 was the aim of this research. Basic data were collected through questionnaires via direct contact with producers and agricutulture authorities. Results showed that in orchard by area of smaller and larger than 0.5 hectare, the most energy consumption was related to peach production (19146 and 35648 MJ.ha-1, respectively). Output energy in apple production was the most (48800 and 56120 MJ.ha-1, respectively). The most portion of input energy consumption was related to fuel energy and fertilizer. Fuel consumption energy in orchards of smaller than 0.5 hectare in producing peach, apple, nectarine and pistachio was 6300, 5100, 3600 and 3458 MJ.ha-1, respectively(33, 22, 28 and 22 % of total input energy consumption, respectively). Fertilizer energy was 5800, 5360, 4800 and 4638 MJ.ha-1, respectively (30, 33, 27 and 30 % of total input energy consumption, respectively).  In orchard of larger than 0.5 hectare, results were somewhat different. Fertilizer energy consumptions for Peach, Nectarine, Apple and Pistachio were 12300, 11560, 11680 and 8600 MJ.ha-1, respectively (34, 33, 36 and 32 % of total input energy consumption, respectively).