The Relationship between Energy Inputs and Crop Yield in Greenhouse Basil Production

This study was conducted to determine a relationship between energy input and yield in greenhouse basil production in Esfahan Province, Iran. Data were collected from ۲۶ greenhouse basil producers through a face-to-face questionnaire. The data collected belonged to the production period of ۲۰۰۹–۲۰۱۰ with the following results obtained. A total energy input of ۲۳۶,۰۵۷ MJ ha-۱ was estimated to be required for basil production. The share of electricity (۷۵.۶۸% of the total energy input) was the highest form of energy required. The expense was followed by plastic cover (۹.۶۹%) and chemical fertilizer spending (۷.۲۸%), respectively. The energy ratio, productivity, specific, and net energies were found out as ۰.۲۵, ۰.۱۱ kg MJ-۱, ۹ MJ kg-۱ and -۱۷۷۳۷۷ MJ ha-۱, respectively. A determination of the efficient allocation of energy resources was modeled through Cobb–Douglas production function. The results of econometric model estimation revealed that the impact of energies spent in the form of human labour and plastic coverings on yield was significantly positive at ۱% level. Sensitivity analysis of the energy inputs revealed that the marginal physical productivity (MPP) value related to human labour was estimated as the highest.

کلیدواژه ها:

Basil ، Cobb–Douglas ، Greenhouse ، Input energy ، Production function ، Regression ، Sensitivity Analysis ، Yield