Energy balance for carrot root production and drying

Energy balance for field production and drying of carrot root, that was sowed in spring, was done in 2012. Carrot root was grown in a field in Despotovo village and the produced yield was 69,000 kg/ha. Additional processing and drying of carrot root was done in BAG, Joint Stock Company, a plant for vegetable drying. Total energy input starting from carrot root field production to its drying was 425,414.75 MJ/ha, whereat field production of carrot root had a share of 12.33% (52,450.19 MJ/ha) in total energy input and carrot drying process made 87.67% (372,964.56 MJ/ha) of total energy input. The largest energy input was for natural gas (277,921.47MJ/ha) which was a direct energy input. Total specific energy input (EIsp) for field production of carrot root and its drying was 6.165 MJ/kg, total energy productivity (EP) was 0.162 kg/MJ and energy ratio (ER) was 0.281.