Determination of Energy Balance in Organic Wolfberry (Lycium barbarumL.) Production in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the energy balance of organic wolfberry. This study was performed at the organic wolfberry producing facilities during the 2015-2016 production seasons in Aksaray province of Turkey. The agricultural input energies and output energies were used in organic wolfberry production were calculated to determine the energy balance. According to the study findings, the energy inputs in organic wolfberry production were calculated respectively as 3044.23MJ ha(-1) (39.26%) human labour energy, 1694.93MJ ha(-1) (21.86%) diesel fuel energy, 1145.66MJ ha(-1) (14.78%) machinery energy, 984.38MJ ha(-1) (12.70%) organic fertilizers energy, 306MJ ha(-1) (3.95%) irrigation energy, 289.50MJ ha(-1) (3.73%) organic chemicals energy and 289.08MJ ha(-1) (3.73%) transportation energy. Total input energy was calculated as 7753.78MJ ha(-1). Production output organic wolfberry yield were calculated as 10,862.40MJ ha(-1). The energy output/input ratio, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy were calculated respectively as 1.40, 2.66MJ kg(-1), 0.38kg MJ(-1) and 3108.62MJ ha(-1). The consumed total energy input in organic wolfberry production could be classified as 65.07% direct, 34.93% indirect, 59.64% renewable and 40.36% non-renewable.