Energy use in rice, cotton, and sugarcane production in Myanmar

Abstract

Energy use in the production with machines and without machines of three major crops in Myanmar was estimated. Total energy used per ha in rice, cotton, and sugarcane production with machines were 5,423 Mcal, 6,170 Mcal, and 6,350 Mcal, respectively, while in the absence of machines, energy used were only 3,834 Mcal, 3,932 Mcal, and 3,896 Mcal, respectively. This represented an energy increase by 32%, 36% and 39% for rice, cotton, and sugarcane, respectively, when machines are employed. Indirect fossil energy use of fertilizer inputs accounted for the highest energy bill (86.22% and 58.48% in rice, 81.46% and 53% in cotton, and 68.23% and 41.86% in sugarcane) in productions without machines and with machines, respectively. Among fertilizers, nitrogen contributed the highest amount of indirect fossil energy used for all three crops.
Rice was more energy productive (EP) at 10.72 kg grain per liter diesel oil equivalent (LDOE) when grown without machines; the EP was reduced to 7.27 kg grain per LDOE with machines. However, in terms of energy return on energy input (EROI), sugarcane had the highest EROI at 2.18 and 3.55 with machine use and without machines, respectively. The net return for the three crops was higher when no machines were used. In fact, using machines in cotton production led to negative income. Use of machines, however, increased labor productivity by 159%, 251%, and 259% in rice, cotton, and sugarcane production, respectively.
Efficient technologies and practices are necessary to decrease production costs, increase the financial return, reduce the negative impacts on environment, and to enhance the production sustainability of the three major crops in Myanmar.