Evaluation of CO2 Emission Caused By Energy Consumption of Local Rice Cultivars In Mazandaran Province

Evaluation of energy consumption pattern and its efficiency in agricultural systems can play important role in recognition of agronomic ecological systems by highliting energy wasting points. In order to reach this point, it is essential to evaluate the incoming and outcoming energy to the system. In this research, paddy fields under cultivation of local cultivars were examined across different cities of Mazandaran. Initially the amount of incoming energy, thereafter the amount of outcoming energy were calculated based on agricultural incomes, then ultimately the total carbon dioxide emission were estimated. The results demonstrated that irrigation water, fossile fuel, nitrogen fertilizer and agricultural machinery were the maximum and fungicides, potassium and phosphorous fertilizer, the minimum incoming energy to the system. Babol and Amol cities, because of more cultivating area have maximum incoming energy and causing global warming. It was therefore postulated that effective use of energy in rice cultivation is an important factor in sustainable development, playing in economical saving, fossile fuel reservation and decreasing air pollution.