Energy use efficiency and economic analysis of sugar beet fields in Miandoab city, West Azerbaijan province

The objectives of this study were to determine the energy use efficiency and economical potential of sugar beet production in Miandoab city, West Azerbaijan province in 2011-12. Fields were classified into three groups as group I (less than 1 ha), group II (1-2 ha), and group III (more than 2 ha). Inputs and outputs data were collected from growers using questionnaire and interview methods. Results showed that the total energy input for the groups I, II and III was 40700, 46868, and 48646 MJ ha-1, respectively and the total energy output was 565488, 857657, and 1081920 MJ ha-1, respectively. Energy use efficiency for the groups I, II and III was 13.89, 18.30 and 22.24%, respectively. The total cost of sugar beet production for the groups I, II and III was 40570, 42315 and 47996 thousands Rials ha-1, respectively. The benefit-to-cost ratio for the groups I, II and III was 1.02, 1.42 and 1.56, respectively. Results of this study showed that larger farms had better energy use efficiency and economic performance.