Determination of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in organic almond production in Turkey

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to make the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of organic almond production. This study was performed for 2016 production season in Adıyaman province of Turkey in 2017. The data provided from study were collected from 93 different farms by face to face surveys with full count method. The agricultural input energies and output energies used in organic almond production were calculated to determine the energy efficiency analysis. According to the research findings, the energy inputs in organic almond production were calculated respectively as 7320.30MJ ha–1 (37.21%) diesel fuel energy, 5421.17MJ ha–1 (27.56%) machinery energy, 3818.86MJ ha–1 (19.41%) human labour energy, 1632MJ ha–1 (8.30%) irrigation energy, 1344MJ ha–1 (6.83%) farmyard manure energy, 128.15MJ ha–1 (0.65%) organic chemicals energy and 5.94MJ ha–1 (0.03%) lime energy. Total input energy was calculated as 19,670.42MJ ha–1. Energy values of organic almond yield were calculated as 39,811.80MJ ha–1. Energy efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy calculations were calculated respectively as 2.02, 14.05MJ kg–1, 0.07 kg MJ–1 and 20,141.38MJ ha–1. The consumed total energy input in organic almond production could be classified as 64.93% direct, 35.07% indirect, 34.54% renewable and 65.46% non-renewable. Total GHG emission was calculated as 2518.46 kg CO2-eqha–1 for organic almond production with the greatest portions for human labour (54.16%). The human labour followed up machine usage (15.28%), diesel fuel consumption (14.25%), water consumption of irrigation (10.80%), farmyard manure usage (5.16%), organic chemicals usage (0.34%) and lime usage (0.02%), respectively. Additionally, GHG ratio value was calculated as 1.80 kg CO2-eqkg–1 in organic almond production.