Comparison of energy inputs in glasshouse double crop (fall and summer crops) tomato production

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 36; no. 5; pp. 1639 - 1644
• Main Authors: Ozkan, Burhan, Ceylan, R. Figen, Kizilay, Hatice
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal wastes; Antalya; Applied sciences; autumn; Biological and medical sciences; business enterprises; crop yield; crops; double cropping; drugs; Economic data; electricity; Energy; Energy analysis; Energy economics; energy efficiency; Exact sciences and technology; fertilizers; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General, economic and professional studies; Glasshouse tomato; greenhouses; ingredients; Lycopersicon esculentum; Output–input ratio; specific energy; summer; surveys; tomatoes; Turkey (country); Asia; Turkey; Antalya; Energy analysis; Output–input ratio; Glasshouse tomato; Energy consumption; Energy input; Econometric model; Tomato; Modeling; Seasonal variation; Production; Yield; Greenhouse; Ratio of economic flexibility; Output—input ratio
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2010.11.022

The study examines energy use patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for double crop (fall and summer) glasshouse tomato production in Antalya province, where is one of the most important greenhouse centres in Turkey. The data of the study was retrieved from 37 fall and 25 summer glasshouse tomato producers via face to face survey in 2007. The research findings revealed energy use values for inputs such as manure, electricity, chemical fertilizer and fuel. While the average yield per hectare is 25025.4 kg for enterprises involved in tomato production in fall, it is 22392.9 kg for summer production. The overall energy consumption is higher in fall production with 81362.2 MJ ha−1 in comparison to summer production 63023.2 MJ ha−1. In addition, the specific energy requirement is 3521.2 MJ t−1 and 2814.4 MJ t−1 for fall and summer production in order and the energy efficiency was found out to be 0.31 kg MJ−1 and 0.36 kg MJ−1 respectively. Finally, the energy relationship was tested using the production relationship. The findings indicated that direct energy sources are effective in tomato yield for both of the two seasons. More clearly, the most significant energy input was electrical energy for summer production and a combination of electrical energy, human power and machinery for fall production. Yet, excess and unconscious use of chemical ingredients in glasshouse tomato production was confirmed as energy derived from chemical drugs leaded a declination in the yield for fall season. Therefore, the paper revealed energy relationship for double crop glasshouse tomato production in Antalya, being a reference for similar production methodologies.