Energy Efficiency Analysis and Modeling the Relationship between Energy Inputs and Wheat Yield in Iran

W heat is the dominant cereal crop constituting the first staple food in Iran. This paper studies the energy consumption patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for Wheat production in Iranian agriculture during the period 1986 -2008. The results indicated that total energy inputs in irrigated and dryland wheat production increased from 29.01 and 9.81 GJ ha -1 in 1986 to 44.67 and 12.35 GJ ha -1 in 2008, respectively. Similarly, total output energy rose from 28.87 and 10.43 GJ ha -1 in 1986 to 58.53 and 15.77 GJ ha -1 in 2008, in the same period. Energy efficiency indicators, inputoutput ratio, energy productivity, and net energy have improved over the examined period. The results also revealed that nonrenewable, direct, and indirect energy forms had a positive impact on the output level. Moreover, the regression results showed the significant effect of irrigation water and seed energies in irrigated wheat and human labor and fertilizer in dryland wheat on crop yield. Results of this study indicated that improvement of fertilizer efficiency and reduction of fuel consumption by modifying tillage, harvest method, and other agronomic operations can significantly affect the energy efficiency of wheat production in Iran. Abstract International Journal of Agricultural Management and Development (IJAMAD

Energy Efficiency Analysis and Modeling the Relationship between Energy Inputs and Wheat Yield in Iran

Wheat is the dominant cereal crop constituting the first staple food in Iran. This paper studies the energy consumption patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for Wheat production in Iranian agriculture during the period 1986 – 2008. The results indicated that total energy inputs in irrigated and dryland wheat production increased from 29.01 and 9.81 GJ ha-1 in 1986 to 44.67 and 12.35 GJ ha-1 in 2008, respectively. Similarly, total output energy rose from 28.87 and 10.43 GJ ha-1 in 1986 to 58.53 and 15.77 GJ ha-1 in 2008, in the same period. Energy efficiency indicators, input– output ratio, energy productivity, and net energy have improved over the examined period. The results also revealed that nonrenewable, direct, and indirect energy forms had a positive impact on the output level. Moreover, the regression results showed the significant effect of irrigation water and seed energies in irrigated wheat and human labor and fertilizer in dryland wheat on crop yield. Results of this study indicated that improvement of fertilizer efficiency and reduction of fuel consumption by modifying tillage, harvest method, and other agronomic operations can significantly affect the energy efficiency of wheat production in Iran

Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from the Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Rhizosphere

One purpose of assessing the soil alive and active community is the identification of beneficial bacteria to use them as biological fertilizers, replacing or supplementing synthetic fertilizers. Such biofertilizers are predicted for the sustainability of agricultural production, especially for low input systems such as saffron fields. The aim of this work was to isolate and identify saffron rhizobacteria and to evaluate their possible effects on saffron growth. During 2013/14, some bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of the saffron plantations of different age in Gol village, Birjand, Iran. In total, 12 bacteria species were identified based on phenotypic traits and 16S rDNA sequences analysis. The strains were identified as B. subtilis, B. anthracis, B. cereus, B. megaterium, Bacillus sp., Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas fluorescens, P. putida, Escherichia coli, Pectobacterium sp. and Pantoea sp., with the dominant population belonging to the genus Bacillus. In the field study, inoculation of soil with these strains did not affect the leaf dry weight of the cultivated saffron, however, the strains of P. fluorescens increased the leaf area while P. fluorescens, Paenibacillus, Pectobacterium and B. megaterium increased the number of daughter corms and Azotobacter, B. cereus, B. subtilis and B. megaterium increased the corm weight. Our finding revealed that some bacteria present in the soil of perennial saffron plantations have a promising potential for developing as a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria

Energy Efficiency Analysis and Modeling the Relationship between Energy Inputs and Wheat Yield in Iran

Wheat is the dominant cereal crop constituting the first staple food in Iran. This paper studies the energy consumption patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for Wheat production in Iranian agriculture during the period 1986 – 2008. The results indicated that total energy inputs in irrigated and dryland wheat production increased from 29.01 and 9.81 GJ ha -1 in 1986 to 44.67 and 12.35 GJ ha -1 in 2008, respectively. Similarly, total output energy rose from 28.87 and 10.43 GJ ha -1 in 1986 to 58.53 and 15.77 GJ ha -1 in 2008, in the same period. Energy efficiency indicators, input– output ratio, energy productivity, and net energy have improved over the examined period. The results also revealed that non- renewable, direct, and indirect energy forms had a positive impact on the output level. Moreover, the regression results showed the significant effect of irrigation water and seed energies in irrigated wheat and human labor and fertilizer in dryland wheat on crop yield. Results of this study indicated that improvement of fertilizer efficiency and reduction of fuel consumption by modifying tillage, harvest method, and other agronomic operations can significantly affect the energy efficiency of wheat production in Iran

Comparison of Indicators of Technical and Economic Water Use Efficiency in Saffron and Wheat Production Systems in the Qaenat Region

The main objective of this research was to determine indicators of technical and economic water use efficiency in the cultivation of saffron and wheat in the Qaenat region located in the South Khorasan province in Iran), where 50 wheat farms and 48 saffron farms were investigated during 2011 and 2012. For this purpose, the necessary information about farmer’s age and education, crop yield, the area under wheat and saffron cultivation, type of irrigation source, water flow rate and the number and duration of irrigation were collected by using a questionnaire. The results showed that the calculated indicator of water use efficiency was 0.84 and 0.34 kg.m-3 for wheat total biomass and grain and 0.36 and 0.002 kg.m-3 for saffron total biomass and stigma, respectively. Economic water use efficiency was estimated to be 23706.43 and 1836.89 Rials per cubic meter of water use in saffron and wheat production systems, respectively. There was a significant difference between the different ages of saffron farms for economic water use efficiency and the maximum value of this indicator was related to five-year old farms. Education of the farmers and the area under cultivation were identified as  factors influencing  the studied measures for wheat. Also, the results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between economic water use efficiency and soil salinity

Comparison of chemical inputs consumption in saffron and wheat fields in Qaenat region

Commercialization of agricultural operations and use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agricultural production has been created serious environmental impacts. Due to this issue and in order to assess the amount of chemical fertilizer and pesticide inputs in saffron and wheat production systems, a study was conducted in Qaenat region (South Khorasan province), 50 wheat fields and 48 saffron fields were investigated during 2011-12. The results showed that average nitrogen fertilizer consumption was 222.38 and 57.83 kg.ha-1 in wheat and saffron production systems, respectively, which from sstatistically point of view the difference was significant. In addition, unlike wheat, the use of pesticides very low in saffron cultivation and in many saffron farms it was zero. Therefore, the results can be considered saffron is an healthier product and have greater potential to organic product. Also, the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers which were using in wheat in the study area were significantly different with recommended values. While in saffron production there was no significant difference between the values of consumed and recommended. Therefore, it seems, performing soil testing in each region and providing appropriate fertilizer formulas and required promotional-educational services in this regard, and raising public awareness is a good strategy for reducing the use of chemical inputs

Water stress effects on growth, development and yield of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

The effects of pre-anthesis water deficit and cycle length were examined in Papaver somniferum L., cultivated for alkaloid production, in two locations in southern Spain. The vegetative period was shortened by extending the photoperiod through supplemental lighting in the field, while water deficit in pre-anthesis was induced by avoiding irrigations and installing rain shelters. The treatments were: IN (irrigated-normal photoperiod), IL (irrigated-hastened flowering), DN (water deficit in pre-anthesis-normal photoperiod) and DL (water deficit in pre-anthesis and hastened flowering). The artificial photoperiod hastened the flowering by 15 and 21 days, for irrigated and deficit treatments respectively. Seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) ranged from 398 (DN) to 505 mm (IN). There was evidence of root water uptake deeper than 1.5 m. Stomatal conductance was reduced (16%) during water stress, and did not recover in post-anthesis after resuming irrigation. Head yields (capsule + seeds + 7 cm stem) ranged between 3.8 and 4.3 t ha-1; water deficit and short vegetative period both reduced the biomass accumulated, although the effect on yields in these treatments was counterbalanced by a higher harvest index. Early flowering had a detrimental effect on alkaloid concentration in the capsule. Alkaloids yield ranged between 27 and 37 kg ha-1. Water use efficiency (WUE) ranged between 0.78 and 0.96 kg m-3 ET for yield and between 63.4 and 73.7 g m-3 ET for alkaloids. Water stress increased slightly the Water Use Efficiency. A shorter vegetative phase had no effect on WUE for biomass or yield, but decreased the WUE for alkaloids production.Deficit irrigation Photoperiod Evapotranspiration Water use efficiency