Abstract

In the high rainfall zone of Tamil Nadu, an energy audit was conducted to assess the impact of energy consumption pattern in paddy cultivation due to improved package of practices and mechanization. The study was carried out in two crop years namely 1989-90 and 1997- 98 for Kar season. The study was conducted from one hundred randomly selected paddy growing farmers in the zone. It was found out from the analyzed data, that the total energy utilized has increased from 15.801 MJha' in 1989-90 to 18,964 MJ ha in 1997-98 and the productivity has increased from 3,060 kg ha in 1989-90 to 4,442 kg ha in 1997-98. Quadratic model was fitted to understand the spatial variation in total energy consumption and yield. It was found out that the productivity level was proportionately reducing beyond certain level of energy utilization.

Keywords: Kar, Paddy, Energy