Energy assessment of conventional and organic production of head cabbage

S. Masheva, M. Mihov, V. Yankova, G. Antonova

Abstract: An energy assessment for the late production of the varieties Kyose 17, Balkan, Pazardzhishko podobreno and Pazardzhishko cherveno was carried out in order to determine the energy intensity of farm systems for conventional and organic production of head cabbage. Mineral fertilizer in quantities of N11.5P23.0K24.4 (determined by soil fertility analysis) and pesticides of chemical origin in quantities of 0.60 kg a.i. herbicide, 0.55 kg a.i. fungicides and 0.52 kg a.i. insecticides were applied in conventional production. Authorized products of biological origin i.e. 300.00 L biofertilizer, 2.00 L biofungicide and 1.34 L bioinsecticides were used in organic production. It was found that conventional production needed up to 4864.81 MJ.da-1 of energy while organic production required by up to 31.23% less energy per unit area of land. The variety with lowest energy intensity was Balkan variety, followed by Pazardzhishko podobreno variety with values of up to 4.65% and 2.44% respectively less in comparison to the energy intensity values of these varieties in conventional production. Most suitable for conventional production out of the trial varieties are the Kyose 17 and Balkan varieties while most suitable for organic production are the Balkan and Pazardzhishko podobreno varieties.

Keywords: bioproducts; cabbage; energy use; farm systems; organic production

Date published: 2019-06-28