Determining efficiency of energy input for silage corn production: An econometric approach

Ehsan Houshyar, Hamid Reza Zareifard, Philipp Grundmann and Pete Smith

Energy, 2015, vol. 93, issue P2, 2166-2174

Abstract: This study was undertaken to analyze the energy consumption patterns of silage corn production, the corresponding GHG emissions, the relationships between energy inputs and outputs, and the sensitivity of yield-to-energy inputs, using the Cobb–Douglass econometric model and MPP (Marginal Physical Productivity) in the Fars province of southwest Iran. Although the average amount of inputs and outputs were analyzed, 20% of the maximum and minimum values were also reported as cluster 1 (C1) and cluster 2 (C2) farmers. The results showed that around 45–68 GJ/ha energy was needed to produce 67–85 ton ha−1 of silage corn. According to the MPP, the most effective inputs on the yield were human power, chemicals and seed energy inputs, since the yield had the highest sensitivity to these three inputs. Three energy input scenarios were proposed based on the average, minimum and maximum energy consumptions; i.e. LEI (Low Energy Input), MEI (Medium Energy Input) and HEI (High Energy Input) scenarios. The lowest energy and yield were consumed and produced in the LEI, respectively. The output–input energy ratio, energy productivity and kg yield per kg CO2, were highest in the LEI, although higher energy and yield were used and produced in the MEI and HEI, respectively.

Keywords: Energy use efficiency; Econometric models; MPP (Marginal Physical Productivity) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544215013158
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:93:y:2015:i:p2:p:2166-2174

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2015.09.105

Access Statistics for this article

Energy is currently edited by Henrik Lund and Mark J. Kaiser

More articles in Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().