Energy balance and Economical Analysis of Local and Improved Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Cultivars in Guilan Province

The study of energy balance in agriculture is one of the ways to evaluation of sustainable agriculture. In this study, energy flow in local and improved rice farms was evaluated in Gilan province during 2005 & 2006. The analysis done to use the input–output technique. Results indicated that N fertilizer had most share in energy consumption (without irrigation energy). Total energy input in improved and local rice cultivars were 25214.41 and 22329.47 MJ.ha-1, respectively and output energy value of improved and local cultivars was 83790 and 61005 MJ.ha-1, respectively. The results showed that although net return in improved rice cultivars was higher than local rice cultivars, The highest benefit cost ratio value observed for local cultivars (1.01).