Energy Efficiency and Carbon Footprint Analysis of Sweet Cherry Cultivation Processes in Türkiye: The Case of Niğde Province

Abstract

The agricultural sector is one of the major sectors that have an impact on environmental dynamics through carbon emissions from sectoral processes. Since energy is consumed directly by agricultural sector through the cultivation of fields with machinery, sustainable production activities are among the practices that need to be promoted in order to combat climate change. The aim of this research is to determine energy efficiency, cost analysis, and carbon emissions of sweet cherry cultivation. This research was conducted during the 2019–2020 period in Ulukışla district of Niğde province/Türkiye. Based on face-to-face survey data on farmers, this study analysed the influence of the energy equivalent of each stage of agricultural mechanization level on sweet cherry production. Within the methodology of the study, the energy values per unit area of the inputs in sweet cherry production period, including soil tillage, irrigation, fertilization, spraying, pruning and harvesting, were computed. The energy yield of the product and the total cost and profit values and the amount of CO₂ emissions were also computed. All dynamics in the production process such as tractor implements, fuel consumption, and human labour costs were evaluated. The energy embodied in production process was classified into direct and indirect, and their shares in total energy consumption were additionally determined. According to the findings of the current research, total energy input (EI) and energy output (EO) were computed as 54,292.66 MJ/ha and 81,352.65 MJ/ha, and the energy ratio value calculated as 1.50. As a result of the cost (expense) analysis, the profit value was calculated as 42,436.61 TL/ha. The results showed that the most energy consuming input, at a rate of 12,862.13 kgCO₂/ha, was nitrogen fertilization.