Energy Audit and Economic Analysis of Hydroponically Grown Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) under Protected Cultivation

The present study was aimed at establishing energy relationships and economics of hydroponically grown strawberries under protected cultivation. The results revealed that the calculated total input energy for strawberry production was 43,732.5 MJ ha-1, with an output energy of 44,936.9 MJ ha-1. The output-input energy and specific energy production ratio were 1.03 and 1.85, respectively. The inputs like electricity, fertilizers, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and human resources consumed about 49.0, 18.0, 17.0 and 16.0 per cent of total input energy, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio was 1.69 with a 50.0 per cent subsidy, and it was reduced to 1.39 without the subsidy component. The findings envisaged that the adoption of advanced technologies for strawberry cultivation substantially enhances fruit production, energy ratios and reduces cultivation costs.