Determination of energy use efficiency of alfalfa production: A case study of Tekirdag province

In this study, the energy inputs of different harvesting systems applied in alfalfa production in Tekirdağ province were investigated. Indirect and direct energy inputs used in alfalfa production were determined by surveys conducted with producers. In the alfalfa harvest, six different harvesting systems (H1, H2, H3, H4, H5 and H6) and five different harvesting systems in silage making (H7, H8, H9, H10 and H11) were investigated. The main aim of the study is to analyze the basic energy inputs in the production of dry grass and silage in alfalfa production. Direct energy input is calculated in the highest dry grass production system, while indirect energy input is calculated in the highest silage production system. The highest total energy input was calculated in the production of bale silage (20787.19 MJ / ha) and in the dry grass production system (19454.57 MJ / ha). The highest energy efficiency (20.07%), the highest specific energy (2.26 MJ / kg) and the lowest net energy production (396443.81 MJ / ha) were determined in the bale silage production system. Energy efficiency was calculated with 0.53 kg / MJ in dry grass (D) system and pile-type silage production system.