Determination of Energy Consumption in Corn Production in Tehran, Alborz, and Qazvin Provinces

The optimum consumption of energy is one the sustainable production factors of agricultural crops. Enhancement of production will be sustainable when the use of energy is on the optimum level. The objective of this study was to assessment of energy consumption of three strategic crops including wheat, corn and sugar beet in Tehran, Alborz and Ghazvin provinces. Ten farmers have been interviewed face to face in this study. Fuel consumption measured for different agricultural operation. Results indicated that input energy of three provinces for corn was 71039.47 MJ ha-1. The average of output energy for corn was 131041.83 MJ ha-1. Maximum and minimum of consumed input energy in corn production was allocated to electricity with 56.78 % and labor with 0.24 % of the total input energy. Energy efficiency of corn obtained 1.84. Energy productivity of corn was determined 0.13 kg MJ-1. Net energy was calculated 60002.35 MJ ha-1 and energy intensity of those crops was determined 7.97 MJ kg-1.
Introduction
The agricultural sector, as the primary producer of the nation’s food supply, is not only a major consumer of energy but also an important provider of energy resources. In addition to technical analyses, economic, energy, and environmental assessments are crucial components in evaluating agricultural projects. Agricultural production requires energy derived from various sources. The cultivation of agricultural products demands substantial amounts of human, animal, chemical, and fossil energy inputs. Therefore, energy plays a critical role in the development and efficiency of the agricultural sector. Energy index analysis is a key necessity in agriculture. Through analyzing energy consumption patterns, strategies can be proposed to optimize energy use, minimize unnecessary losses, and enhance productivity and profitability. Considering the diverse energy use areas within agriculture, effective energy management can significantly improve resource efficiency. The main stages of energy management include controlling energy consumption, investing in energy-saving technologies, and maintaining and preserving energy resources. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy consumption associated with corn production in the provinces of Tehran, Alborz, and Qazvin.
Materials and Methods
In this study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 corn producers, and field observations were carried out to measure the amount of fuel consumption for various agricultural operations. Initially, a questionnaire was designed based on the opinions of agricultural experts from the Agricultural Jihad Organization and several leading farmers in the study area to obtain comprehensive data. The first two sections of the questionnaire contained general information about the farmer and the farm, such as total cultivated area, seed type, farming experience, land ownership, and agricultural machinery. Subsequent sections of the questionnaire covered all stages of corn production, including land preparation and tillage, planting, weeding, irrigation, pest control, fertilization, and harvesting operations. Each section gathered information on the quantity of inputs used, the methods and frequency of various agricultural activities, and data on input costs and revenues. The final part of the questionnaire included information related to additional activities such as field supervision, guarding, and other miscellaneous inputs. Moreover, data on the previous crop cultivated before corn were also collected. After designing and completing the questionnaires with farmers across the three provinces, the collected data were carefully evaluated and analyzed. During questionnaire design, special attention was given to the simplicity and clarity of questions. The questionnaire’s validity was further confirmed based on the opinions of university professors, agricultural experts, and results from a pilot test. A simple random sampling method was used, ensuring that the obtained results were reliable and generalizable to the entire population. To determine the total energy inputs used in corn production, the equivalent energy values of electricity, fuel, seed, machinery, human labor, fertilizers, and pesticides were calculated, and their shares in total energy consumption were determined.
Results and Discussion
The results indicated that in the studied provinces, the average total input energy for corn production was 71,039.47 MJ ha⁻¹, while the average corn yield across Tehran, Alborz, and Qazvin provinces was 8,914.41 kg ha⁻¹. The total output energy obtained from corn production in these provinces was calculated as 131,041.83 MJ ha⁻¹. In comparison, previous studies have reported an average yield of 6,167 kg ha⁻¹ for corn production. Among the input energy sources, electricity accounted for the highest share of total input energy, contributing 56.78%, while human labor energy had the lowest share with 0.24% of total input energy. Based on the calculated energy indices for corn production: Energy efficiency (energy ratio):1.84, Energy productivity:0.13 kg MJ⁻¹, Net energy:60,002.35 MJ ha⁻¹, Energy intensity:7.97 MJ kg⁻¹.
Conclusion
The results showed that the average total input energy for corn production in the provinces of Tehran, Alborz, and Qazvin was 71,039.47 MJ ha⁻¹, while the average total output energy was 131,041.83 MJ ha⁻¹. The highest share of input energy consumption was related to electricity, with 40,335.12 MJ ha⁻¹, accounting for 56.78%of total input energy. This was followed by nitrogen fertilizer, with 12,930.37 MJ ha⁻¹, representing 18.2%of total input energy. In contrast, human labor energy had the lowest share, amounting to 171.3 MJ ha⁻¹(i.e., 0.24%of total input energy). The total direct and indirect energy inputs in corn production for the studied provinces were 49,072.18 MJ ha⁻¹and 21,967.29 MJ ha⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, renewable and non-renewable energy inputs were estimated at 43,066.42 MJ ha⁻¹and 27,973.05 MJ ha⁻¹, respectively. The average energy indices for corn production in Tehran, Alborz, and Qazvin provinces were calculated as follows: Energy use efficiency (energy ratio):1.84, Energy productivity:0.13 kg MJ⁻¹, Net energy:60,002.35 MJ ha⁻¹, Energy intensity:7.97 MJ kg⁻¹ Overall. these results indicate that electricity and nitrogen fertilizer are the most energy-demanding inputs in corn production, highlighting the potential for improving energy efficiency through better management of electrical and fertilizer use.