Life Cycle Assessment and Energy Consumption Optimization in Rainfed Chickpea West Azarbayjan Province

This study was conducted in West Azarbayjan province in the crop year 2019 With the aim of rainfed chickpea life cycle assessment and energy consumption optimization and emissions reduction in small farms (equals smaller than 2 hectares), medium farms (between 2 and 4 hectares) and large farms (larger than 4 hectares). Required data, were obtained through face-to-face interviews with farmers and filling out 250 Specialized questionnaires and were evaluated by data envelopment analysis method. Results indicated that total input energy for chickpea production in small, medium and large farms was 6366, 6048 and 6848 MJ.ha1-, respectively and the maximum energy consumption was related to large farms. The largest share of consumption energy was related to diesel fuel at all farm levels. The energy ratio in small, medium and large farms was obtained 2.47, 2.49 and 2.13, respectively. Chickpea life cycle assessment results revealed that environmental impacts on medium-sized farms were lower than small and large sizes in all effect sections. Seed, diesel fuel, and agricultural machinery inputs had the largest share in diffusion of environmental indexes. According to energy consumption optimization results, the average of energy efficiency in small, medium and large farms was 93%, 88% and 90%, respectively which demonstrates that farmers of small farms have more precise information about proper production methods or have used different inputs at better time and in a more optimal amount.