An Input Output Energy Analysis in Intensive Agroecosystems:A Case Study of Greenhouse Cucumber Production in Varamin County of Tehran Province, Iran

The aim of this study was to examine the energy equivalents of input and output in greenhouse cucumber production in Varamin County of Tehran Province, Iran. A survey methodologywith a sample of 200 greenhouse farms was employed in 2010. The results showed that the output–input ratio, specific energy and energy productivity were 0.017, 46.84MJ/kg and 0.02 kg/MJ, respectively. In this sense, diesel (99.03%), human labour (0.37%) and fertilizer (0.34%), had the highest proportion of energy consumption. Based on the results obtained, two strategies including input substitution and using technical progress were recommended for the best energy efficiency.