Analysis of energy of different olive cultivation systems in a semiarid region

The objective of this study was to determine the input-output energy of olive cultivation in a semiarid region of Çanakkale, Republic of Turkey. Data were collected from olive farmers by a questionnaire for traditional-flat/sloping and intensive-flat systems in last growing season. The results revealed that net energy gain was higher in intensive system than in traditional flat and sloping ones. Similarly, energy ratio was higher in intensive by 1.46 MJ ha-1 than in sloping and flat of traditional by 1.42 and 1.38 MJ ha-1 , respectively. The highest energy productivity was recorded in the intensive (0.93 MJ ha-1), but the lowest was in the traditional-sloping (0.75 MJ ha-1), and then in the traditional-flat (0.92 MJ ha-1). Indeed, the intensive system produced higher olive yields which allow using a higher level of fertilizer, water and mechanization, but also the energy analysis revealed that its efficiency in the energy was higher than two traditional systems. The results suggested that intensive system could be a better cultivation system in flat areas for the region farmers in an increasingly competitive without worsening environmental sustainability.