Evaluation of Energy Use Efficiency, Green House Gases Emission and Economic Analysis of Sorghum Production in Sistan

Energy consumption and application of agricultural inputs have a significant effect on the economy and the environmental consevation. This study examines the energy efficiency, GHGs emissions and production costs of sorghum production systems in the Sistan. Data were collected from 85 sorghum farms using face to face questionnaires in 2014. Results indicated that the total energy input was 37,695.1 MJ.ha-1, and the most important energy inputs belonged to electricity, followed by chemical fertilizers and diesel fuel. The share of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable forms in sorghum production were 79%, 21%, 22% and 78, respectively. Also, energy use efficiency was 7.3. Electricity with a production of 2981.3 kg CO2-eq.ha-1 played the most important role on the total GHGs emission of 3746.7 kg CO2-eq.ha-1 and it was followed by manure and diesel fuel. Economic analysis indicated that the total cost and the average net return of sorghum production was 29.5 and 5.8 million Rial.ha-1, respectively. Energy use efficiency was 13.4, while the benefit-to-cost ratio was 1.3. Energy management is a key factor for reduction of energy consumption, environmental pollution and the cost of production in the fields.