An investigation on energy consumption and sensitivity analysis of soybean production farms

The aims of this study were to determine the energy consumption and evaluation of inputs sensitivity for soybean production in Kordkuy county of Iran. The data used in this study were obtained from 32 farmers using a face-to-face questionnaire base of random sampling method. The sensitivity of energy inputs was estimated using the marginal physical productivity (MPP) method and partial regression coefficients on soybean yield. The results indicated that the total input and output energy use was to be 18,026.50 and 71,228.86 MJ ha−1 respectively. With 66.67%, the diesel fuel was the highest within the energy equivalents and followed by chemical fertilizers and water for irrigation with 14.32% and 6.18% respectively. The input–output ratio was found as 4.62 (used efficiency). The share of direct, indirect, renewable and non-renewable was 74%, 26%, 14% and 86% respectively. The econometric model estimation emphasized that the seed was significantly positive on yield. The sensitivity analysis indicated the MPP value of 2.42 for seed, indicates that with an additional use of 1 MJ of seed energy would lead to an increase in yield by 2.42. The impact of direct, indirect and non-renewable energies on yield was significant.

► We determine the energy output–input ratio for the soybean production.
► The results showed that average yield in soybean was 2285.6 kg/ha and soybean production consumed a total of 18,026.5 MJ/ha input energy.
► Cobb–Douglas frontier production function is used to develop econometric models for soybean production.
► According to parametric estimation results, seed energy was the most significant input that influences on yield.