Energy Use Efficiency of Melon (Colocynthis Citrullus) Production under Different Tillage Methods

Since mechanization is inevitable and is associated with increase in productivity, there is need to find the most appropriate tillage method in crop production that minimizes energy consumption, enhance profitability and reduce environmental damage from fossil fuel related emission. This research investigates the energy use efficiency in melon production in three tillage methods (reduced, minimum and maximum). Human power, machinery, diesel fuel, fertilizers, seed and pesticides energy inputs were used during the cultivation of melon. Input and output energy analysis method was used to quantify the input and output energy in each of the tillage methods during the production of melon. The energy indices of melon production determined are; energy efficiency, energy productivity, specific energy, net energy and energy efficiency index. The total energy required per hectare in reduced, minimum and maximum tillage were 4528.29, 7191.07 and 8325.64 MJ/ha while the output energy were found to be 8112, 10404 and 10752 MJ/ha, respectively. The energy efficiency were estimated to be 1.79, 1.45 and 1.29 while net energy were found to be 3583.71, 3212.93 and 2426.36 MJ/ha for reduced, minimum and maximum tillage methods, respectively. The result revealed that maximum tillage is better than both reduced and minimum tillage in terms of energy efficiency and net energy gain. Keywords: energy, melon, tillage, energy efficiency, net energy DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-9-05 Publication date: December 31st 201