Comparative analysis of sustainability factors in greenhouse and open-field strawberry production in Guilan Province, Northwest Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

10.22124/cjes.2025.8732

Abstract

Considering the reduction of natural resources, increasing world population, and food security, the development of greenhouse production is necessary. This study aimed to investigate and compare the energy use patterns, economic indices, and associated greenhouse gas emissions of strawberry production in both greenhouse and open-field farms in Guilan Province, Northwest Iran. Energy use efficiency was calculated at 0.13 and 0.48 for greenhouse and open-field strawberry production, respectively. Applications of fertilizers, human labor, and diesel fuel energy inputs were significant in both production methods. Greenhouse sensitivity analysis showed that an increase of 1 MJ in each water input for irrigation, human labor, and chemical energy would lead to an additional yield increase of 4.13, 2.63, and 2.11 kg ha-1, respectively.  Although the mean technical efficiency in greenhouses is slightly higher than in open fields, the low mean values of technical efficiencies indicate ample room for improvement in operating practices to enhance energy use efficiency for both greenhouse and open-field strawberry producers. The benefit-to-cost ratios for strawberry production in the surveyed greenhouses and farms were calculated to be 1.74 and 1.49, respectively. Diesel fuel and electricity are the main contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in greenhouses. Greenhouses consumed significantly more energy (18 times higher), Greenhouse gas emissions (78 times higher), and incurred a higher total cost of production (8.87 times higher). However, greenhouses were more beneficial for producers as they provided a 25.75-fold higher net return due to their ability to yield more produce, produce off-season, and command premium prices. To achieve sustainable development of greenhouses, more efforts should be made in intelligent management and reducing the consumption of electricity, fuel, fertilizers, and chemicals.
 

Keywords

References

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Available Online from 09 May 2025

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