Economic Analysis and Evaluating the Sustainability of Potato Production Based on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Case Study: Golestan Province)

This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the sustainability of the two autumn and spring potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming ecosystems. 

The study was conducted by questionnaire in Golestan Province during the period of 2017-2018. The number of samples was determined by Cochran formula. Accordingly, 120 and 60 farms were selected for autumn and spring cultivation, respectively. After determining the most important inputs and output for farms, the greenhouse effect and economic indices were determined in two farming ecosystems. 

Global warming potential and carbon efficiency were 3913.94 CO2e .ha−1 and 13.46 in autumn farming ecosystem and 1857.15 CO2e .ha−1 and 17.32 in spring farming ecosystems, respectively. In autumn and spring potato farming ecosystems, gross value of production indices were 1896 and 1158 $. ha-1; gross return indices were 518.21 and 18.34 $. ha-1, net return indices were 58.95 and -287.83 $. ha-1, benefit to cost ratio indices were 1.03 and 0.8 and productivity indices were 17.20 and 13.35 kg. $-1, respectively. 

The environmental sustainability of the spring potato farming ecosystem was higher than the autumn and the economic sustainability of the autumn potato farming ecosystem was much higher than the spring. It is recommended to continue the autumn cultivating as long as the input consumption management is improved. In the spring potato farming ecosystem, it is advisable to replace potato with products such as beans and squash because of good production potential and higher selling price in the region.