Energy and water use indexes for lettuce production under different irrigation systems in Iran

Energy in agriculture is important in terms of crop production and agro processing for value adding. This method in an agricultural product system is the energy consuming in product operations and energy saving in produced crops. In this study source wise and operation wise energy consumption for lettuce production under canal and pump irrigation system conditions were investigated. Also energy and water indicators were analyzed to better understand the main effects from utilization of different irrigation systemson water and energy use. For these purposes data were collected from 95 lettuce producers in Mazandaran province of Iran, using a face to face questionnaire method. The results revealed that under pump and canal irrigation conditions the total energy input was 19491.07 and 15322 MJ/ha and energy use efficiency was 0.08 and 0.07, respectively. The three major energy consumer inputs under pump irrigation system were electricity, fertilizers and diesel fuel; whilein canal irrigation conditions they were fertilizers, diesel fuel and indirect energy of irrigation,respectively. On the other hand, water energy use efficiency was calculated as 1.03 and 0.36 for pump and canal irrigation conditions, respectively. Water energy ratio under pump irrigation was found to be 43.78%, from which the shares of direct and indirect energies of irrigation were 40.8% and 2.98%, respectively; while under canal irrigation conditions it was found to be 39% and the contribution of direct energy compared to indirect energy for irrigation was relatively low. In order to reduce energy consumption and improve energy use efficiency and water productivity, it is suggested to use canal irrigation systems, design suitable schemes for high irrigation efficiency and to improve the energy use efficiency for of water pumping systems.

Keywords:

Energy input , irrigation system , water productivity , lettuce production , Iran