Energy Balance and Fuel Consumption Analysis in Rice Cultivation in Medak District, Telangana, India

Abstract

Aims: To study fuel energy and energy input-output analysis in Rice production system. Study Design:  Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Medak district 2023. Methodology: Data for the study were gathered through face-to-face surveys conducted on sixty Rice-producing farms in Medak district. The selection of farms for the survey was determined using a simple random sampling method. After collecting the data, fuel energy and input-output energy  ratios were calculated. Results: Rice production cost averaged Rs. 44,000/ha with total energy input of 17,349.64 MJ/ha. N fertilizer (38.61%) and diesel fuel (23.37%) were major energy contributors, while seed contribution was minimal (0.41%). Grain yield reached 7,410 kg/ha, generating net energy of 3,270.64 MJ/ha and energy productivity of 0.43 kg MJ⁻¹. The output-input ratio was low (0.81) due to high fertilizer inputs. Specific energy was 2.34 MJ kg⁻¹ and energy intensiveness 0.39 MJ Rs⁻¹. Among machinery, cultivator had lowest fuel consumption while combine harvester had highest. Conclusion: The analysis reveals that rice production in Medak District faces significant energy efficiency challenges that require immediate attention. The key finding that the system consumes more energy than it produces (output-input ratio of 0.81) indicates an unsustainable production model that threatens both economic viability and environmental sustainability.