Energy utilization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in cherry cultivation

This study was performed with the purpose of shedding light on the energy balance (EB) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of cherry cultivation. It was performed in Gönen district of Isparta province of Türkiye during the 2021 production period. Data related to energy inputs (EI) and outputs (EO) were gathered in cherry cultivation. They were then usaged to reveal the EB and GHG in the process. According to the results of the study, EI in cherry cultivation were 8 141.40 MJ/ha (57.04%) chemical fertilizers energy, 3 575.69 (25.05%) diesel fuel energy, 1 186.02 (8.31%) machinery energy, 469.80 (3.29%) electricity energy, 366.25 (2.57%) human labour energy, 290.30 (2.03%) irrigation water energy, 231.30 (1.62%) chemicals energy and 13.20 MJ/ha (0.09%) lime energy, respectively. Total input energy was computed to be 14 273.96 MJ/ha while output energy was found to be 29 593 MJ/ha. Energy utilization efficiency (EUE), specific energy (SE), energy productivity (EP) and net energy (NE) values were found as 2.07, 1.41 MJ/kg, 0.71 kg/MJ and 15 319.04 MJ/ha, respectively. The total energy inputs that were involved in cherry cultivation were categorized as: 32.94% (4 702.04 MJ/ha) direct (IE), 67.06% (9 571.92 MJ/ha) indirect (IDE), 4.60% (656.55 MJ/ha) renewable (RE) and 95.40% (13 617.41 MJ/ha) non-renewable (NRE). Total GHG emission was computed as 550.71 kgCO2eq/ha for cherry cultivation with the greatest share for diesel fuel (31.82%). GHG ratio value was computed as 0.05 kgCO2eq/kg in cherry cultivation.