Optimizing Energy Consumption in Legume Production to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions: An Empirical Investigation

Owing to the escalating utilization of agricultural inputs, energy consumption and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have seen a significant surge. Consequently, the optimization of energy usage to mitigate environmental pollutants has emerged as a critical focus. This study employs the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to optimize energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions in agricultural production. Data was collected through randomized, face-to-face interviews with 200 agricultural producers in Chennai, India, in 2021. The results revealed that the total energy input for legume production was 2000 MJ/HA² for seed, 29950 MJ/HA² for fertilizer, and 1065 MJ/HA² for machinery. Among the consumption components, nitrogen fertilizer, electricity, diesel fuel, and irrigation water accounted for 35%, 27%, 18%, and 9% of the total, respectively. However, under optimal input consumption conditions, the total energy requirement was determined to be 31678 MJ/HA². Accordingly, a saving of 2.36% in total energy consumption could be achieved without compromising yield. This research underscores the potential for energy optimization in agricultural practices, contributing significantly to GHG emission reduction efforts.