Analysis and Comparison of Energy of Two Aeroponic and Ordinary Systems in Producing Solanum Tubrsosum L. Mini-Tubers

Solanum Tubrsosum L. is considered as the fourth important crop of the world. Ardebil is the first province in producing mini-tubers by aeroponic technique, which is free from microbes and viruses and has high productivity ratio. In this regard, an experiment was conducted in Ardebili Greenhouse Complex in 2016 to analyze and compare the energy of aeroponics and ordinary systems in producing Solanum Tubrsosum L. mini-tubers. Results showed that energy ration (ER) is relatively higher in aeroponics system than the one in ordinary system. Similarly the case is same for conditions of energy productivity (EP) index. The very high specific energy consumption was seen in cultivation under soil (ordinary) system as compared to aeroponics system, which indicates the lower efficiency of this system in producing mini-tubers. Unfortunately, the net energy (NE) index in soil (ordinary) system has similar conditions for all other Iran greenhouse products. However, the aeroponics system has positive net energy and therefor is more desirable than soil system. Generally, aeroponics system was found to be more advantage according to annual energy indexes, period, and mini-tuber. Therefore, this system can be suggested as one of stable systems based on energy to produce Solanum Tubrsosum L. mini-tubers.