Almond production in Iran: An analysis of energy use efficiency (2008-2011)

The objective of this study was to analyse input-output energy in almond production in Chahrmahal-Va-Balchtiari province, Iran. Almond production data were collected from producers using the direct questionnaire method. The results reveal that electricity accounted for a large part of the input energy (50%), followed by chemical fertilizers. The average contributions of human labour, chemicals, farmyard manure, diesel fuel and machinery were 6.89%, 6.77%, 4.70%, 4.66% and 3.59% of the total energy input, respectively. The average values of total energy output, net energy gain and energy efficiency were 140.2 GJ ha(-1), 77.7 GJ ha(-1) and 2.24, respectively. In addition, the average values for energy productivity and specific energy were 19 kg GJ(-1) and 0.06 GJ kg(-1), respectively. The average values for direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable forms of energy were 41.6 GJ ha(-1) (66.63%), 20.9 GJ ha(-1) (33.36%), 18.3 GJ ha(-1) (29.21%) and 44.2 GJ ha(-1) (70.79%), respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.