Analysis of reasonability for producing main crops using TOPSIS (case study: Azna, Lorestan province, Iran)

Non-renewable energy consumption in agriculture increased greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and global warming. The present study aimed to look at energy use, GHGs emissions and economic indicators in Azna, a city in Iran's Lorestan Province in 2019. For this purpose, data were collected applying questionnaires via face-to-face interviews. The TOPSIS method was used to find the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly crop. Investigated crops were irrigated and rain-fed wheat and barley, rapeseed, bean, potato, and sugar beet. The results revealed that sugar beet cultivation is not efficient in terms of energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP). The highest share of the total energy input was recorded for diesel fuel, N and P fertilizer with at least 80% for all crops. The maximum GHGs emission and GWP was observed in sugar beet and bean at 0.019 and 0.02, however, the lowest was recorded in rain-fed barely at 0.005. The highest relative proximity to the ideal and the shortest distance from the ideal were observed in rain-fed barley and wheat. In general, wheat and barley, especially when cultivated under rain-fed condition, had the highest cultivation priorities in the region, which can reduce environmental problems.