Energy modeling of sunflower seed production systems

Energy modeling in agricultural production systems is a beneficial approach to manage energy consumption. In the present research, the energy flow in sunflower as one of the main oilseed plants was analyzed and modeled. The input-output information of ۵۰ farmers were randomly gathered by face-to-face questionnaire in Sonqor, Kermanshah, Iran. The inputs were labor, fuel, machinery, fertilizer, seed, electricity, and manure and the output was sunflower seed. The results showed that ۳۲۴۴۰.۳۱ MJ.ha-۱ energy was obtained as the result of energy consuming of ۱۹۹۵۱.۱۷ MJ.ha-۱. The mean share of each inputs in total input energy of the production farms was depicted in Fig. ۱. In the studied sunflower production farms, the input energy value related to fuel consumption was higher than that of other inputs. The energy equivalent and energy share of the fuel consumption was ۶۹۷۴.۲۶ MJ and ۳۵ %, respectively. After fuel, the highest energy input belonged to electricity.