Energy input–output analysis in production and post–production agriculture is very important for developing efficient and sustainable crop production systems. Crop production is highly dependent on yielding varieties, chemicals, fertilizers, mechanization and other energy inputs. Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most important commercial vegetable crop widely cultivated in India. Indian onions are broadly classified into three types viz., common onion, small common onion and aggregatum onion. Aggregatum type onion is widely used in Tamil Nadu and Kerala cuisine owing to its special flavour and pungency traits as well contributed significant nutritional value to the human diet as well medicinal value. This is widely grown in Southern states of India viz., Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, mainly by small and marginal farmers. A study was carried out to estimate and analyse the energy input-output of aggregatum type onion cultivation in Karnataka State. The farm operations for aggregatum onion cultivation are land preparation, planting, manure and fertilizer application, plant protection, irrigation, harvesting and detopping. The data was collected by survey through structured schedule and data was converted into respective energy equivalents. The energy parameters in terms of direct energy (included men, women, tractor, diesel and electricity), indirect energy (included seed, fertilizer, pesticide and machinery) and output energy were calculated. Fertilizer energy (11,911.49 MJ/ha) was the maximum utilized energy source followed by diesel (6,228.98 MJ/ha) and electricity (5,677.27 MJ/ha) contributing about 40%, 21% and 19% of input energy. Fertilizer application (12,051.07 MJ/ha) had the highest share of energy consuming farm operation followed by irrigation (5,901.53 MJ/ha) and land preparation (5,664,71 MJ/ha). Aggregatum type onion cultivation consumed 29,378.44 MJ/ha total input energy (out of which 53.22 % direct energy and 46.78 % indirect energy). The output energy was calculated as 25,095.20 MJ/ha with energy productivity of 0.54 kg/MJ., it was concluded that fertilizer was the highest utilized energy sources (40.54%) followed by diesel (21.20%) and electricity (19.32%). From the above study it was concluded that consumption of fertilizer, diesel and electricity should be optimizied. In case of fertilizer, use of liquid fertilizes, nano fertilizer and adoption of natural farming may be validated through research and then many be recommended to the onion growing farmers. By adopting E-tractor or E-prime movers for farm operations will lead to reduction in use of diesel consumption. Farmers should be encouraged to use solar powered water pumps in place of electrical pumps to reduce the electrical energy. Energy from farm women also contributes significantly as input energy source. Farm women are engaged in planting of onion bulbs, weeding, harvesting and detopping operations of onion cultivation operations. Machineries are available for onion bulb planting, harvesting and detopping need to be widely demonstrated to the onion growing farmers for adoption thus leading to reduction the input energy in onion cultivation.

Aggregatum type onion, direct energy, indirect energy, energy input-output, energy productivity

A study was conducted at Gundlupet (Tk.) of Chamarajanagar (Dt.) of Karnataka to assess the energy utilization for aggregatum type onion cultivation. From the above study, the following conclusions were drawn: The total input energy utilised for cultivation of aggregatum type onion was 29,378.44± 1904.05 MJ/ha and output energy was 25,095.20 ± 2651.08 MJ/ha with the energy ratio of 0.86±0.12. Energy utilized for fertilizer application was observed to be the highest as 40.54 per cent followed by irrigation (19.32%) and land preparation (18.67%). Further, when all the nine associated energy sources (direct sources: men, women, tractor, diesel and electricity, indirect sources: seed, fertilizer, pesticide and machinery) were considered which contributes for the above three farm operation in onion cultivation, it was concluded that fertilizer was the highest utilized energy sources (40.54%) followed by diesel (21.20%) and electricity (19.32%). By utilizing the fertilizer, diesel and electricity optimally, the energy ratio can further be increased as well reduction in inputs coupled with soil health. It was also clear that energy from farm women contributing significantly as input energy source. Farm women are engaged in planting of onion bulbs, weeding, harvesting and detopping operations of onion cultivation operations. Machineries are available for onion bulb planting, harvesting and detopping. These machinery need to be widely demonstrated to the onion growing farmers for adoption thus leading to reduction in input energy in onion cultivation.

A. Carolin Rathinakumari, G. Senthil Kumaran, Venu S.A. and Ashok Suraj B. S. (2022). Energy Input-Output Analysis of Aggregatum Type Onion Cultivation in Karnataka State. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(3): 1562-1567.