Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Extension and Education, Department of Agriculture, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
2
MSc Graduate Student, Agricultural Extension and Education, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Agricultural Extension and Education, Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
10.30490/aead.2024.363151.1544
Abstract
Studying the environmental aspects of agricultural systems is very important. The present study was conducted to assess environmental sustainability of the tomato production in Asadabad county using the ecological footprint analysis and energy efficiency. Based on energy consumption, the place-oriented method was used, and therefore consumption-based ecological footprint, direct and indirect ecological footprint were calculated. Global hectares approach was used to measure the ecological footprint unit. In addition, according to energy input and output resulting from the consumption of inputs and from the products, energy efficiency was estimated. The study was conducted by descriptive-survey research method using a questionnaire, and a sample of 210 tomato producers was randomly selected. The ecological footprint of tomato production was estimated at 3/62 global hectares (direct EF=2/2 and EF_(co2 )=1/42 gha). Accordingly, an area of 1/42 ha of productive land will be needed to absorb produced pollutants from tomato production. Energy efficiency and productivity indices from the ratio of energy output originated from tomato yield to energy input resulted from inputs, especially electricity with 38.9, nitrogen fertilizers with 26.9 and gasoline with 15.2, a total of 81%, were calculated equal to 0.34 and 0.42 MJ, respectively. The major factor in low energy efficiency and productivity is irregular consumption of inputs, especially electricity and nitrogen fertilizers. Because of irregular and unprincipled consumption of inputs, tomato production in asadabad county is ecologically unsustainable.
Main Subjects
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