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ENERGY EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF WHEAT CROP UNDER DIFFERENT CLIMATE AND SOIL BASED IRRIGATION SCHEDULES
* 1 , 2 , 1 , 3
1  Assistant Executive Engineer (Lab Engineer)
2  Research Assistant
3  Student

Abstract:

Use of energy in agriculture sector directly or indirectly has been intensified to increase crop production the agriculture sector directly or indirectly has been intensified to increase crop production to the agriculture sector directly or indirectly has been intensified to increase crop production to fulfill the food demand of the growing population. Considering the energy and water scarcity in Pakistan, the present study was carried out to assess wheat production efficiency with regard to energy consumption. For thi s purpose, a field experiment was conducted at the Water Management Research Centre (WMRC), University of Agriculture Faisalabad to compare two irrigation scheduling techniques (climatic and soil moisture based) and farmer’s practice. All the inputs except volume of irrigation water were same for all treatments. Energy equivalents (extracted from scientific source) were used to calculate energy balance and indices (Energy use efficiency, Energy Productivity (kg MJ the same for all treatments. Energy equivalents (extracted from scientific source) were used to calculate energy balance and indices (Energy use efficiency, Energy Productivity (kg MJ-1), specific energy (MJ.kg-1), Net energy (MJ ha-1) and Water productivity (kg m-3)). Results shows that the soil moisture based treatment (at 30% MAD) gave 7.94% and 27.94% more yield compared to climate based treatment’s (20 mm CPE) and farmer’s practice respectively. The pumping water for irrigation was the highest energy consumption input for wheat production after chemical fertilizers. Soil moisture and climate based treatments saved 33.72% and 35.72% energy respectively due to water saving over farmer practice. The highest net energy (78855.35 MJ ha-1), energy use efficiency (4.643011), energy productivity (0.200964 kg MJ-1) and water productivity (1.875 kg m-3) was achieved with soil moisture based irrigation schedule at 30% MAD however highest specific energy (7.097692 MJ.kg-1) was achieved with farmer practice.

Keywords: Energy, Climate, Soil moisture
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