Analysis and Optimization of Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sugarcane Production Using Data Envelopment Analysis

This study was conducted to analyze and optimize the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for sugarcane production in planted and ratoon farms using data envelopment analysis in Khuzestan Province. Information needed for this study, related to the years of 2011-2016, were interviewed by company staff and filled out questionnaire from Imam Khomeini Sugarcane Agro-Industrial Company. Based on two models of constant return to scale and variable return to scale, the average values of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency were calculated as 0.91, 0.98 and 0.93 in planted farms and 0.95, 0.98 and 0.96 in ratoon farms, respectively. In optimal consumption mode, total energy savings of 14763.1 (equivalent to 8.52%) and 3205.17 (equivalent to 2.61%) MJ ha-1 was calculated planted and ratoon farms, respectively. Of the total energy stored in plant farms, the largest share storage of electricity, water for irrigation and diesel fuel belonged to 77.03%, 7.64% and 5.58%, respectively. Also, electricity, water for irrigation and diesel fuel were 51.57%, 26.51% and 13.2%, respectively, also of the total energy stored in the ratoon farms, with the highest percentage of storage compared to conventional consumption. The amount of total greenhouse gas emissions were 5825.25 and 4310.76 kgCO2eq ha-1 in planted and ratoon farms, respectively and optimal mode 5192.13 and 4200.75 kgCO2eq ha-1 respectively. The amount of was reduced to 633.12 and 110.1m kgCO2eq, in planted and ratoon farms, respectively.