Energy Efficiency of Forage Corn production in Shahrood Region

ABSTRACT: Sustainable development in forage corn (zea maiz) production is an issue of growing concern. In order to estimating the energy consumption and forage corn yield in Agricultural Research Center of Semnan Province ( Shahrood), this study was conducted. This study was about the energy efficiency of forage corn production. Calculations include energy output (contents of energy in forage sorghum) and energy inputs (consumption of fertilizers, pesticides, labor, machines, fuel and electricity). The ratio of output of the production to inputs is called the energy outputs / inputs ratio. One way to quantify essential parts of agricultural development is the energy flow method. The output / input energy ratio is proposed as the most comprehensive single factor in pursuing the objective of sustainability. Results of this investigation showed that among direct energy, the highest value is related to irrigation. Mean direct energy input in one hectare of forage corn was calculated about 5673.5 MJ/ha. Nitrogen consists the highest portion of indirect energy inputs and average indirect energy was about 25731MJ/ha. Total energy input in one hectare of forage corn in Shahrood was 314040.5MJ/ha. Mean energy output calculated 1046000MJ/ha. In this study energy efficiency was 33.61. Results showed that, forage corn yield wasn 95000 kg/ha. Since most energy consumption is related to Irrigation water, fertilizers and machinery operation. So, the use of new methods of irrigation (pressurized irrigation), precise application of fertilizers and new methods of tillage (conservation tillage) can increase the energy efficiency. Application of Tape irrigation, fertigation and reduced tillage that consumed lower energy, will increase energy efficiency in agriculture. Regarding energy efficiency of forage corn yield in Tape irrigation and fertigation, it can be recommended that furrow irrigation and fertilizer broadcasting can be replaced by Tape irrigation and fertigation. Also, because much of the energy consumption of mechanical energy comprises the other hand, most of the mechanical energy is used in the tillage, use of modern methods of tillage (conservation tillage), thereby saving energy and increasing productivity energy.