Modeling Energy Flow and Economic Analysis for Walnut Production in Iran

The aims of this study were to determine energy use pattern, to obtain relationship between energy inputs and yield, and to make an economical analysis in walnut orchards in Hamadan, Iran. Required data were obtained from 47 walnut orchards based on random sampling method. The results indicate that walnut production consumed a total energy of 15196.1 MJ/ha where chemical fertilizers with about 41% were the major energy consumer. Energy use efficiency, energy productivity and specific energy of walnut production were 2.9, 0.3 and 3.4 MJ/kg, respectively. Econometric estimation results revealed that energy inputs of human labor, farmyard manure, chemical fertilizers, water for irrigation and transformation contributed significantly to the yield. The results of sensitivity analysis of the energy inputs showed that the Marginal Physical Productivity (MPP) value of human labor was the highest, followed by farmyard manure and water for irrigation energy inputs, respectively. The results also showed that direct, indirect and renewable and non- renewable, energy forms had a positive impact on output level and the MPP value of direct and renewable energy were higher. The benefit to cost ratio, mean net return and productivity from walnut production was obtained as 2.1, 2043.7 $/ha and 0.3 kg/$, respectively.