C.J.S. Pannu

Optimization of energy input for raising cotton crop in Punjab

Abstract Modern farming has become very energy intensive. There is a great need to balance the use and availability of energy, especially in the agricultural sector, in such a manner so as not to affect production adversely. A study was conducted to optimise the energy inputs for the cotton crop in Punjab. Different mathematical functional relations were fitted between the yield and total energy input. An attempt was also made to optimise the energy inputs using frontier production functions (unconstrained frontier function and constrained frontier function). Seedbed preparation, irrigation and weeding consumed about 70% of the total energy input. The average yield of cotton can be increased by 6–8% with an additional energy input of 1–3%, mainly through tillage, irrigation and spraying.

Energy input and yield relations for wheat in different agro-climatic zones of the Punjab

Modern farming has become very energy intensive. Nowadays cropping pattern, farm activities and level of technology define the energy requirements. Energy needs are not only increasing in the agricultural sector, but in all sectors involving human activities. There is a great need to balance the use and availability of energy especially in the agricultural sector, in such a manner, so as not to affect the production adversely. Realising the implications of energy use, a study was carried out on the energy consumption patterns, in different agro-climatic zones, for the wheat crop in the state of Punjab in India. Mathematical relations were fitted to the yield and total energy input. An attempt was also made to optimise the energy inputs using a frontier production function for different agro-climatic zones. Under the present conditions, where irrigation is not assured, there is not much scope for increasing the yield of wheat in zone 1. However a 5.4% increase in yield is expected in zone 2 by providing 26.9% additional energy input through irrigation and the use of a fertiliser. The yield can be increased by 3.2% to 4049 kg/ha from 3922 kg/ha by putting 18.6% more energy input in zone 3. Yield can be increased to 4934 kg/ha (an increase of 13.7%) by an additional energy input of 28.5% in zone 4. On the other hand, the additional energy input of 29.6% gives only 1.3% increase in yield in zone 5. In most cases, the proper placements of seed, irrigation and fertiliser played significant roles in increasing the productivity in addition to some unknown parameters such as soil type and weather conditions.

Frontier energy use for the cultivation of wheat crop in Punjab

Two frontier production functions were applied to different categories of wheat growing farmers in Punjab. The technical efficiency for each category of farmer was determined. Actual use of various forms of energies in wheat production were compared with the frontier energy used on different categories of farms. From the study, it was concluded that large farmers used energy in the best possible way to achieve maximum yield. Therefore, steps should be initiated to rationalize the use of various forms of energies in wheat production so as to improve the efficiency of marginal, small and medium size farmers. Extension efforts should address the problem of energy conservation explicitly.

Energy inputs and crop yield relationships for rice in Punjab

Energy inputs and crop yields of rice by 209 farmers from three villages were collected over 2 years and analysed. Relations were found between crop yield and tillage, irrigation, fertilizers, and pre-harvest or total energy inputs. The 209 farmers were divided into 25 homogeneous groups by using a cumulative cube method for the input-energy level. There are quadratic relations between rice yield and pre-harvest energy input. The yield shows Robbs parabolic relation with irrigation, fertilizer and total energy input.

Energy planning of a Punjab village using multiple objectives compromise programming

A multiple objective programming (MOP) problem was considered to select the best plan for small, medium and large farms in Punjab. Different farm plans were proposed by giving different weights to five objectives, viz. minimization of energy input, maximization of gross returns, minimization of capital borrowing, minimization of labour hiring and minimization of risk for availability of energy inputs. Out of 10 farm plans, the farm plan with weights δ2 = 20 and δj = 0.001 for j = 1,3,4,5 in terms of the maximum amount of gross returns was found to be the best for small, medium and large farms.

Energy use pattern for a selected village in the cotton-belt of Punjab

A village was selected from agro-climatic zone-5 in Punjab (India) to assess energy-resource availability, expenditure and shortcomings of the village ecosystem. Data on energy inputs and outputs were collected over a period of two years. The village had a gross power of 3.9 kW/ha and the over-all output-input energy ratio was 2.5; this ratio was 7.1 for crop-production with a benefit-cost ratio of 2.0. Irrigation consumed 29.4% of the total energy required for crop production. Household activities consumed 67.1% of total energy with cooking accounting for 91.8% of this amount. The village was self-sufficient for cereals and milk products. Energy was imported as diesel, electricity, etc.

Energy requirements in fish production in the state of Punjab

Abstract A study was performed in the Patiala District of Punjab to evaluate the energy requirements in fish production. For this study, a total of eight farmers were selected randomly. The ponds were stocked by the farmers with fingerlings of the species ‘Katla’, ‘Rohu’, ‘Murrak’, ‘Silver carp’ and ‘Golden’. Data regarding all operations, from pond preparation to fish harvesting, were collected. The total energy input in fish farming varied between 86385–162503 MJ/ha with an average value of 125243 MJ/ha including pond construction and initial water filling. However, pond construction and water filling operations are done only once, and the water level is maintained from time to time. Therefore, excluding these two operations, the energy required in fish production was found to be in the range of 5495–14117 MJ/ha with an average value of 9121 MJ/ha. The production of fish varied between 4050–4520 kg/ha with an average value of 4291 kg/ha. This level of production gave the energy-ratio of 1.36–3.14 with the mean value of 2.00.

Fertilizer energy use and crop yield relationships for wheat in the Punjab ecosystems

For maintaining a balance in a village ecosystem, a compromise has to be made in the crop yield and the agro-inputs to be used. Data regarding fertilizer energy use and crop yield of 855 farmers of six villages from five different agro-climatic zones of Punjab state, collected for 2 yr, were analyzed statistically. Different mathematical relationships were established between the yield of wheat crop and fertilizer energy use for different categories of farmers. It was observed that Gupta and Nigams relationship was the best fit on marginal farms. Robbs parabolic relationship was the best fit on the remaining three categories of farms, viz. small, medium and large. It was also observed that fertilizer energy input beyond 8500 MJ/ha reduced the yield.

Energy inputs and crop yield relationships for wheat in Punjab

Abstract Data regarding energy inputs and crop yields of 855 farmers of six villages from five different agro-climatic zones of the Punjab state, collected during the period of two 2-yr surveys were analyzed statistically to establish the mathematical relationship between them for wheat. Different mathematical relationships were fitted between the yield of the wheat crop and tillage, irrigation, fertilizers, pre-harvest and total energy input separately. The 855 farmers were divided into 57 homogeneous groups by using the cummulative cube method on the basis of input energy level. It was observed that the pre-harvest energy and total energy input have a quadratic relationship with the yield of wheat crop, whereas fertilizer used energy shows Robbs parabolic relationship. However, irrigation has no specific relationship with the yield, but it was observed that the yield increased with the increase in irrigation energy and beyond a certain limit declined drastically. Tillage energy has no statistical relationship with yield of wheat crop.

Pre-harvest energy use and crop yield relationships for growing wheat in Punjab

Abstract Data regarding pre-harvest energy use and crop yield of 855 farmers of six villages from five different agro-climatic zones of Punjab state, collected for two years, were analyzed statistically. Different mathematical relationships were fitted between the yield of wheat crop and pre-harvest energy use for different categories of farmers. It was observed that Neldor’s relationship was the best fit on marginal and small farms. Robb’s parabolic relationship was the best fit on the medium and large categories of farms.