College of Agriculture, Shimoga-577 201, India.
The shares of renewable and non-renewable energy sources was measured in major irrigated cropping systems on the basis of primary data generated from 360 farms. The study indicated sugarcane was most energy intensive crop requiring nearly 40,000 Mj of energy for its cultivation. The crop demands less of non-renewable sources (35%) in comparison with other cropping systems. On the other hand paddy-paddy system needed higher levels of non-renewable sources. From view point of sustainable energy use, it is suggested to go in for system which makes least demand for non-renewable sources of energy keeping in view other things such as food security in the long run.
