Determination of energy productivity and efficiency in different conservation tillage systems for the production of cotton fiber

This study was conducted in order to determine the energy productivity and efficiency in different methods of conservation tillage for production of cotton fiber in Varamin during two years. Tillage treatments in this study were included, moldboard plow two passes of disk harrow as conventional tillage (CT), two passes of disk harrow as reduced tillage (RT), one pass of chisel plows pickups as minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT) as direct drilling method in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated that tillage method significantly (P≤0.05) affected crop yield. The conventional tillage was endowed with maximum cotton yield at the rate of 3636/4 kg/ha while no tillage with minimum rate of 1753/3 kg /ha. In terms of energy consumption, conventional tillage were endowed with the highest value (30473.16 MJ.ha-1) and no tillage treatments with the least amount of 25903.1 MJ.ha-1. The maximum direct consumption of energy was related to irrigation equipment (5850.054 MJ.ha-1). Maximum indirect energy in conventional tillage was related to Nitrogen fertilizers, irrigation and fuel by 11620, 5850 and 4704 MJ.ha-1, respectively. The highest Energy Ratio (ER) was in conventional tillage method (2/36) and the lowest energy efficiency was in no tillage (1.33). Eventually In terms of energy productivity (EP), conventional tillage method were endowed with the highest amount (0.04 kg.MJ-1) and no tillage with the least amount (0.023 kg.MJ-1). Ultimately, on basese of energy productivity and efficiency, conventional tillage is recommended as optimum conservation tillage system in Varamin.