A comparative study of production systems in the Goharkuh Taftan complex utilising emergy and economic analysis

This study evaluated the sustainability of five agricultural production systems (wheat, barley, alfalfa, cotton, and Pistachio) in the Goharkuh Taftan complex using emergy assessment and economic analysis. Pistachio exhibited the highest gross return (1200 million Rials/ha), net profit (850 million Rials/ha), benefit-to-cost ratio (3.43), transformity (Tr) (9.53E + 05 sej/j), specific emergy (2.37E + 10 sej/g), renewability index (%R) (15.12 %), modified emergy sustainability index (0.207), modified emergy yield ratio (1.397), and the lowest modified environmental loading ratio (5.61) among the various products within the complex, as determined through the integration of emergy assessment and economic analysis outcomes. The standard Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR) (143.16), standard Emergy Sustainability Index (ESI) (0.008), Emergy Index for Sustainable Development (EISD) (0.0028), and Emergy Index of Agricultural Product Safety (EIPS) (0.437) of this product were found to be in a favourable condition. On the other hand, cotton exhibited the least favourable performance in various emergy indicators, including the %R (2.07 %), ELR (344.13), ESI (0.003), EISD (0.0021), and EIPS (0.198) within the given context. The alfalfa product exhibiting the most unfavourable economic indicators demonstrated the highest EIPS (0.554) and the lowest Tr (1.34E + 05 sej/j) value among the various systems within the complex. Wheat and barley had similar emergy performance but were less profitable than pistachio and cotton. Reducing reliance on non-renewable resources and lowering costs for land, labor, seed, and machinery improved both emergy and economic indicators. The study revealed a trade-off between emergy and economic indicators in complex production systems. To enhance sustainability, balancing renewable and non-renewable resource use is crucial.