A comparison of utilization systems in terms of energy consumption of soybean (Glycine max L.) production in Moghan plain

Evaluation of energy flow in utilization systems is considered to be a valuable technique for evaluation the sustainability level of these systems. The aim of this survey was to compare utilization systems (cooperative, private and governmental) in terms of energy consumption in Soybean production and the evaluation of energy inputs effect in yield of Soybean in Moghan. For this purpose, the data were collected by using a face-to-face questionnaire from 14 cooperative members, 54 private and 14 agro-industry units. The maximum energy input was observed in governmental utilization system (26784.84 MJ.ha-1), followed by cooperative utilization system (24815.94 MJ.ha-1). Furthermore, the energy output in cooperative utilization system, private and governmental were calculated 41947.5, 39948.61 and 43627.5 MJ.ha-1, respectively. The share of renewable energy from the total energy input in cooperative utilization system, private and governmental was estimated 37.47, 37.84 and 31.07%, respectively, while it was respectively 62.53, 62.16 and 68.93% for non renewable energy. The share of non- renewable energy sources was relatively high. Therefore, it seems that efforts should be made to substitute renewable sources for some part of the non- renewable sources. Energy analysis indicated that output–input energy ratio (energy used efficiency) in cooperative utilization system, private and governmental were 1.68, 1.63 and 1.62, respectively. In all energy indices, cooperative utilization system compared to private utilization and governmental utilization systems was more suitable. The elasticity production estimates indicated, that among the energy inputs, irrigation was the most important input that influences total energy of Soybean production.