Handbook of Energy Utilization in Agriculture [antikvár]

PREFACE The aim of this volume is to collect and present available data, both published and unpublished, on energy use in agriculture and forestry producdon. Energy analyses for some sciences such as ecology are not new, but their applicadons to agriculture started in 1973. These analyses have grown rapidly in number and complexity. This handbooic is intended for agriculturalists and others concerned with energy use in crop, livestock, and forestry production. We have assembled the best data available, but look forward to receiving comments and suggestions from researchers in helping us strengthen any future editions. The data presented in the Handbook focus specifically on the energy input aspects of crop, livestock, and forest producdon. In these analyses no attempt was made to assign an energy value to manpower although it is an input in all the systems studied. Assigning an appropriate value to the energy cost of labor is difficult because of the various means of measuring the energy cost of labor. These energy costs individually or in various combinations might include: (1) the mechanical and heat energy expended in doing a particular agricultural task; (2) food energy consumed per day per agricultural worker; (3) accessory energy utilized specifically for the worker himself; (4) total energy for the worker as a part of society including the government and the military support systems; (5) total energy for the worker plus his family as a part of society. In the analysis of the energy inputs for crop, livestock, and forest production, the decision by the Advisory Board was not to measure the energy input for labor and to employ process analysis for the accounting of the other specific energy inputs for agricultural production. The process analysis employed accounted for about 90% of energy inputs. To account for all the energy inputs, a combination of process analysis and input/output analysis would be desirable. For many crops details concerning the various inputs such as machinery are not fully known, therefore "best estimates" had to be made. In most cases, averages of inputs were used. Although these inputs vary from region to region and from farm to farm in the United States, the estimated average input values at least give a base guideline. We fully recognize the many limitations of energy accounting for crop, livestock, and forest production. We feel, however, that the data assembled by the numerous authors will prove valuable to agriculturalists as they strive to make more efficient use of energy and other resources needed for successful crop, livestock, and forestry production in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. The contributing Authors and Advisory Board to this handbook devoted considerable time and effort in assembling this handbook. The successful completion of this handbook is due to their cooperation and hard work. I am indebted to Ms. Nancy Goodman, Debra Alesbury, and Susan Pohl for their valuable assistance in compiling this volume. I also wish to thank Sherry Derr of CRC for her technical assistance in editing this handbook. David Pimentel