Investigating the efficiency and energy consumption in sugar beet production

Extended Abstract
Introduction
Increasing sugar beet production through intensified use of production factors and major technological breakthroughs involves considerable limits. A policy to implement a planting pattern adapted to the ecological and climate conditions of each region, identifying which crop types are compatible with those conditions and provide the highest yield to growers, has been presented. The importance of this issue is reflected in the notified programme, where cereals and irrigated sugar beet are among the crops designated for cultivation in temperate areas, such as South Khorasan Province. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate how energy is consumed in agro-ecosystems in order to increase their output and their long-term stability. The aim of efficiency calculation in economics is to avoid waste of resources and to determine whether the output of the economic unit is in the best and most profitable condition.
Materials and Methods
The efficiency of sugar beet growers was measured using a bounded Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. Calculating the computational efficiency of an optimal or efficient approach is referred to as best relative efficiency or optimistic efficiency. The pessimistic DEA model calculates the set of most unfavorable weights for each unit. One of the main objectives of this study was to calculate the direct energy consumption of sugar beet production. Electrical energy consumption was considered as one of the inputs. After calculating the energy associated with the effective inputs contributing to the total input energy of the product, energy efficiency indices, energy productivity, and net energy were calculated. The statistical population of this study consisted of sugar beet growers in the Islamabad Plain of Qaen county. The necessary data were collected through expert interviews and by completing 48 questionnaires from a random sample of sugar beet growers in Qaen county. After determining the quantity of each input used per hectare of crop, growers’ efficiency was evaluated. To determine energy consumption, the quantity of each input used was converted into its energy equivalent.
Results and Discussion
Of the units studied, 11 units exhibited the required efficiency and were considered as reference units for the managing input consumption. Additionally, 23 units were found to have below-average efficiency, producing less output with the same input compared with other units. A production rate of 0.70 sugar beet per input unit indicates a higher yield with optimal and specific input consumption. Notably, 8.3% of the growers did not use inputs effectively or efficiently. The energy output or sugar beet production, was calculated to be 442.61 gigajoules per hectare, which exceeds the average total energy consumption. Examination of the proportion of inputs consumed per hectare revealed that the most significant ratios were attributed to various fertilizers (28%), diesel fuel (26%), and chemical pesticides (12%). Overall, the average total energy input was 12%, and the average energy output was 13%. The energy input for sugar beet production, estimated at 403.5 gigajoules per hectare, was calculated on the basis of the average consumption of labor, diesel fuel, irrigation water, fertilizer, chemical pesticides, and seed. The energy efficiency ratio for sugar beet was 1.09, and the energy efficiency of 0.06 kg of sugar beet per unit of energy was recorded. Low efficiency in these units can be improved by increasing production without increasing input consumption. According to the results of the study, improving input efficiency is recommended as an effective approach to reduce environmental impacts while increasing economic output per hectare. On average, 22% of growers demonstrated better technical performance than thier peers. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a platform for successful sugar beet growers to share their experience and methods with others. Furthermore, the average output-oriented efficiency of 1.76 per unit of sugar beet production indicates that a lower value corresponds to higher efficiency, i.e., less input consumption for producing a given quantity of product. Overall, 8.3% of growers did not use inputs efficiently or effectively. The results of energy efficiency suggest that managing agricultural systems by optimizing the use of chemical fertilizers, introducing varieties with high nutrient uptake efficiency, and implementing crop rotation can reduce chemical fertilizer use on fields. After fertilizers, the largest share of total energy inputs is attributed to fuel consumption (diesel) estimated at 946.08 gigajoules per hectare. The average energy efficiency of 1.09 indicates an increase in energy consumption due to higher yield growth than energy input, consistent with findings from studies on Iranian agricultural products.
 Conclusion
Based on the results of this research, the following recommendations are proposed: identifying efficient units and using them as models, while also recognizing inefficient units and giving them particular attention, can facilitate improvements in overall effectiveness. Evaluating the underlying causes of inefficiency in the field is essential for informed decision-making and performance enhancement.. Efforts should also focus on optimizing energy consumption by reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and increasing the adoption of renewable alternatives. Furthermore, pro,oting the use of organic fertilizers can significantly contribute to lowering energy consumption in this sector.