Assessing energy consumption in conventional rice production systems in Mazandaran and Guilan provinces of Iran: A case study in Babolsar and Lahijan

In this study, the energy indices of conventional rice production systems in Babolsar and Lahijan were investigated during 7010. Data were collected from 140 rice paddy farms in two provinces by carrying out a face-to-face questionnaire. The farms were selected based on random sampling method. Results demonstrated that the total input and output energy in Lahijan rice production systems were 4375433 and 177313311 MJ, respectively and, for input and output energy in Babolsar, were 40347377 and 17211732 MJ, respectively. Additionally, 333 of energy consumption in Guilan Province was assigned to water, 743 to electricity and 133 was allocated to N fertilizer. The character of energy consumption in Mazandaran Province was slightly different, since 413 was allocated to water, and 133 and 143 to N fertilizer and electricity, respectively. Ultimately, the results showed that the energy efficiency of rice production systems in Guilan was 7314, energy productivity was 031 and the proportion of water energy was 333. Furthermore, the values for the aforementioned indices in Mazandaran Province were 1315, 0311, and 413, respectively. It’s noticeable that the vast majority of input energy was due to using water logging irrigation systems, obtaining it from groundwater resources through use of electric power which, consequently, reduced energy efficiency and productivity in the rice production systems studied. Regarding this, the employment of new technologies for the proper management of water resources recommended.